6S3 



Ke 



letter to Director dated Jan. 1st, 1912). . - 



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The plant is propagated by bulbils, which may be grown on 

 in nurseries till about 1 ft. or so high — '' set oiit 8 or 9 inches apart 

 each way in nursery beds, in six months they will attain a growth 

 of 8-12 in. and they may then be transferred to the field " (Kew 

 Bull. 1892, pp. 21-40) — or by suckers arising from the rootstock, 

 planted out at from 8-9 ft. apart. Well-drained soil (containing 

 a good proportion of limestone) and a dry hot climate are 

 necessary conditions. The plant in Jamaica was grown for 

 many jears; but failed when cultivated on alluvial soils owing 



to poling prematurely and it has been found that it can be 

 grown with success and profit on a limestone soil in dry hot 

 districts (CoL Rep, Ann. No. 820, 1914, p. 13). In Yucatan the 

 soil in the fibre producing districts is gravelly and stony, varying 

 in colour — black, brown and red, underlaid by soft limestone 

 rock at an average depth of about 8 in. (KeW Bull. Add. Ser. ii. 

 p. 173). The plants mature in from 3-5: years, when approxi- 

 mately 25-50 leaves may be safely taken froifi each plant during 

 a year, and " under good conditions leaves produce about 3h 

 per cent, clean dry fibre, whiter arid stronger than Henequen " 

 (Dewey, seq.). In Jamaica 5-9 per cent, is obtained— the higher 

 percentage in very dry weather (Agric. News, Barbados, April 25th, 

 1914), The leaves are cut from below when full length; but 

 should not be less than 3 ft. and cutting may go on until the 

 plants pole or flower, a period which may vary from 6 or 10 years 

 to more than 20 according to climate. In East Africa the short 

 period of 2-3 years for cutting is recorded (Kew Bull. 1908, 

 p. 300) or the life of the plant in East Africa is put at 6| years, 

 reaching maturity in the third year and cutting for nearly 

 4 years before poling (Heron, Trop. Life, March, 1918, p.. 35; 

 Agric. News Barbados, 1918, p. 238). The leaves are tied in 

 bundles and conveyed to the mill which should be conveniently 

 situated near a good supply of water. The cleaned fibre is hung 

 -on lines to dry and bleach and then baled for shipment. On 

 most plantations where tlie plant is grown commercially 

 machinery is used and it is only on a scale sufficiently large to 

 require machines for cleaning that the cultivation would be 

 likely to pay although — when a supply of salt water- is avail- 

 able—a simple process suitable for peasant labour is mentioned 

 in Kew Bull. 1894, p. 413 as being adopted throughout the 



Bahamas. 



bein 



of the leaf, when it. is torn asunder, leaving the inner part 

 exposed, and by then soaking it in. salt water, which is never far 

 to reach; in about a week the pulp may be removed by hand 

 and the fibre preserved," the output for one man being 50-60 lb. 

 of fibre per day. The "Mexican Fibre" or " Istle " {Agave 

 heteracantJia , Zucc.) — which comes into the London Market for 

 use in. the manufacture of cheap, nail and scrubbing brushes and 

 as a substitute for animal bristles — is produced by hand — but 



