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XLIX.—_SISAL HEMP INDUSTRIES. 
(Agave rigida, Mill.) 
[K. B., 1892, pp. 21-40.] 
A remarkable development of the banat of Sisal hemp in the 
Bahamas has taken place during the last three years. The Governor, 
Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C.M.G., has caiiad such widespread interest, it 
might be termed enthusiasm, in the subject, tha : emp-growing has 
become, for the moment, one of the most p the new industries 
of the tropics. Frequent inquiry has been made “ae Kew in regard to 
the Lani ican the best qualities of Sisal hemp, and information has 
t by official and other bodies to enable them to judge of the 
suitability of the plant for cultivation in other = The position 
tak y Kew in this matter is a very simple one. The various 
varieties and forms of Agave Sisters Mill., the ARA from which the 
have sprung, have been cele studied, and living specimens have 
been added to the collections in the Royal Gardens. In this respect, 
the collections of fibre plants at Kew, at the present time, are probably 
urther than this, an effort has been made to furnish from time to 
time in the Kew Bulletin. such information as could be obtained 
respecting the methods of cultivation and the incidental conditions of 
possessing, on the spot, immens e quantities of plants of the best variety 
known to yield Sisal hemp. This y variety peor ego known as Agave 
rigida var. sadana) is of rapid grown, m is easily handle d. 
nomic: 
As a last resort there is the somewhat crude and clumsy machine long 
used in Yucatan, but it is probable that before any lengthened period 
has elapsed a machi ne of a more suitable character will be forth- 
In the meantime, efforts are being made to establish a fibre industry 
in Florida, where, more than 50 years ago, plants of Sisal hemp were 
introduced and partially established by Dr. Perrine. A special Report 
prepared by Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, of the Department of Agri- 
culture at Washington baa chee apa ar Report No. 3, 1891], 
has lately been issued on the subje In this Report an account is 
given of the distribution of Sisal ae plants in Florida and the adjoin- 
ing Keys, and it is recommended to utilise these as the starting point of 
a regular industry. Mr. Dodge says “ what can lone in the Bahamas 
. <1 have reason to believe can ree accomplished in this country [Florida] 
ve the soil, the climate, and the plants. The com- 
sig es: of capital and inventive genius with these conditions must 
= < Work out the problem, if, indeed, the question is not already peee 
solved.” A further account of the efforts made to establish Sisal 
ban plantations in Florida is given later. 
