139 
be so large as to greatly reduce the returns. Indeed the fibre in a loose 
state is so bulky that it would be almost impossible to ship it at such 
a rate as would enable it to compete successfully with fibres from other 
countries. It is usual to pack this class of fibre by means of be draulie 
. in bales of about 400 lbs. each. If the wie teeters ors in the 
Bahamas take up a fibre industry, it is evident that s ne possessing 
capital should fs pr epared to purchase the fibre in ever quantitice and 
pack it by means of suitable presses ready for shipment. There are no 
grounds, however, for supposing that a fibre industry based on Agave 
and Furcraea plani and judiciously pursued, can be reinii than 
satisfa 
Siileciios of fibre plants was received at Kew about two years ago 
(from the Government of Bahamas), and it was stated in a letter dated 
the 16th May 1887, that among these specimens there was no species 
exactly answering to that yielding the sae lee mp of commerce, The 
fibres of No, 2 (Furcraea cubensis), and No. 3 (Furcraea cubensis, Med 
inermis), were the most valuable, and these are said to be used partly as 
source of commercial fibres in ionii. The true Sisal Heike plant is 
Agave rigida. This may be abundant in the Baharia: but no specimens 
were received of it. Other fibre plants received at the time mentioned 
were Agave lurida and Agave americana var. variegata, the latter a 
variegated form of the common American Agave. These latter are of 
little value for fibre as compared with the true Sisal "He emp plant. 
Specimens of African Bow- string hemp aoe guineensis were 
also received, the fibre of which is of high va 
A fibre industry has been in existence in  Maantlan for some years 
The experience gained there might be of service in the Bahamas, 
especially in regard to the initial difficulties to be overcome in esta- 
blishing a new industry. 
The market value of this class of n and the permanency of demand 
for bi has bee fully Bash pe Sion ew. A summary furnished by 
197.; 1886, 212. The highest price paid was 327. 10s. Od in pastas 
1879 to February 1880, the lowest price was 17/7. 15s. Od. in January 
and February 1886. Recently there has been an increased demand for 
whit te fibres, with a corresponding rise in prices. In the United States, 
Messrs. Crocker’s Statistics, dated the lst December, gore the pA at 
8 to 82 cents per lb. (equal to about 37/. to 39/. per 
Agave fibre from Bana eke prepared by id) wie virait Tast 
December at 15/. 177. per Mauritius hemp prepared by 
machinery from Fun gh se gi inten (known as the green hs or green 
Agave) was valued: good, 34/. to 35/. per ton; “fair, 331. per ton; 
common, 307. per ton. ED. M.] 
XLIV.—FIBRE INDUSTRY AT THE BAHAMAS— 
(continued.) 
(Agave rigida, var. sisalana.) 
[K. B., 1889, p. 254.] 
In the Kew Bulletin for March last, p. 57, maha was given 
respecting a new fibre industry at the Bahamas. Since that time 
