168 
however, been lately made in English and American machines, and 
there are good grounds for believing that the problem will be ultimately 
solved. The point requiring special attention is to ensure continuous 
action in sere the leaves to the machine, and so save the time and 
trouble of reversing the leaves se the whole length can be cleaned. 
The automatic feeding attached to some machines whereby the leaves 
are presented sideways may meet this, but so far such an arrange- 
ment has not been tested for a sufficient time to judge of its practic- 
ie The nie eee: which will soon be felt in the Bahamas 
satisfactory m of utilising the extensive fibre plantations 
established in those daad wil call forth strenuous ae on the pa 
of those interested in S c Mauritius a ine for 
extracting the fibre of Furcraea gigantea has here in use for some 
years, and it appears to give satisfactory results, This is fully described 
later. The labour in sate is chiefly supplied me Indian coolies. 
ARKET VALUE OF SISAL HEM 
view of the large aay increased production of Sisal Hemp in 
Yucatan, and the extensive planting which is taking ot in the 
| Flori 
review the prices which have been realised by Sisal emp of good 
quality in this country during the last 10 or 15 years. By the courtesy 
of Messrs. Ide and Christie, aoe brokers, of 72, Mincing Lane, E.C., 
we are in a position to place on record the average prices per ton of 
p in t n 
average prices h 
follows :—* 24/.; 271.; 28L ; 281. ; 971.; 211.; 191.; 210.; 331.3; 3713 
tele 30/.; 261. The average price for the whole a is 282. 10s. 
op, and 2/, per eri higher than when we last noticed.” 
A dry that the market value of Sisal Hemp has shown oe 
fluctuation of late years. 
_ Tt has already been shown that the bulk of the sor Hemp produc ced 
in mp in dl is shipped to the United States. The pri ag for Sisal 
ee ar we can nly give returns of prices in the United States, 
scores on the 31st December 1891, for the last three years a 
o 
1889, 8§ cents. per pound (407. per ton); 1890, 6 cents. to 6ł cen nts. 
(nominal) ee to 29/. per ton) ; 1891, 4} cents. to 48 cents. (200. to 
s 
In the S the complete returns kindly placed at our disposal 
in regard to Sisal Hemp in this country cannot fail to be of service == 
