MISCELLANEOUS ECOXOM1C PRODUCTS 



547 



About 30 tons of stems is an estimated annual yield per acre. One 

 ton of stems produces about 1501b. of prepared fibre, which is usually 

 valued at -25 to 30 per ton in Europe, according to quality. 

 The difficulty of obtaining suitable machinery for degumming and 

 decorticating the fibre has long been an obstacle to the industry, 

 but this is said to be now almost overcome. It is stated that a 

 good field will not require replanting for five to six years, the plants 

 being kept within proper limits by chopping the sides of the rows 

 occasionally. The crop is an exhausting one; therefore manuring 

 is essential, and all refuse and mulch should be returned to the soil. 





Sisal Hemp interplanted with Cotton, Maha-illuppallama Experiment 

 Station, Ceylon. 



VARIETIES. B. uivea, var tcnacissitna has smaller leaves (green under- 

 neath), and is suited to higher elevations than the above. B. pnlchra has large 

 handsome dark velvety-looking leaves, and is worth growing for ornament. 



Sisal Hemp. (Agave rigida, var. Sisalana. Amaryllideae) 

 A perennial stemless plant of the Amaryllis order, indigenous to 

 Mexico and introduced into Ceylon in 1890. The plant 

 furnishes a valuable fibre, known as Sisal-hemp, from its 

 leaves ; is extensively cultivated in parts of South America, 

 Hawaii, German East Africa and, to a smaller extent, in parts 



