Director's Annual Report. 63 



under the present conditions are therefore those of high value com- 

 mercially for which perfecfled machinery is already procurable. 

 Although the number of such is very restridled their cultivation in 

 these Islands is full of promise. 



Among the best quality of fibres adapted to Hawaii, ramie 

 and olona rank high, but the machinery for their preparation is not 

 yet available, and their manufacture in large quantity is in con- 

 sequence impradlicable ; they may, however, in a few years find a 

 place among our exports when their quality will find them a ready 

 market. It is well to remember that ramie grows readily in many 

 parts of the globe and is already planted extensively in S. Europe 

 where better machinery onh' is needed to develop the -industry: 

 in this respect ramie does not appear to eutirelj' fulfil the requisites 

 of a successful Hawaiian product. 



To immediate planters, the fibre most worth attention is sisal, 

 the cultivation of which has already established itself among the 

 lucrative enterprises of these Islands ; but although the present 

 niarket value is high, it seems unlikely that this will continue in- 

 definitely, as large areas are now being devoted to sisal in California 

 and elsewhere, and Hawaiian fibre may have eventually to seek 

 a more distant market. At present there appears no prospect of 

 over-produ(ftion of this article, but this contingency will probably 

 arise in the future. It is satisfacftory to know that Hawaiian sisal 

 is superior to any other. Planters of this fibre would do well to 

 experiment with sanseveiria and perhaps pita, the general cultiva- 

 tion and manufacfture of which are similar to sisal, and the same 

 machinery well adapted to all three. Of these sanseveiria is in 

 some respedls superior, sisal appearing m general value to hold a 

 middle place. 



Pineapple fibre grows readily in Hawaii and is now receiving 

 some attention. It is one of the most valuable fabric materials, 

 and the areas suited to its growth are more limited than those of 

 many others. The general cultivation and process of manufa(5lure 

 are somewhat similar to' those of sisal, and piiia appears to fulfil 

 most of the conditions necessary for successful introdu(5lion to 

 Hawaii. 



As the best substitute for true hemp and the most valuable 

 cordage fibre, Manila hemp should also have an assured future in 

 Hawaii. It grows readily in these Islands and has preponderating 

 qualities over sisal, but the absence of satisfacftory machinery at 



