182 
and retard poling, Theoretically, oe there is no ground for sucha 
supposition. Sor the other hand the cutting of immature ‘leaves would cer- 
tainly have a contrary effect. The plant would be likely to be weakened 
by the process, and the subsequent leaves borne by it would be smaller 
and weaker. The exact period when the leaves are to be cut should be 
carefully studied. Ag a general rule the leaves are ripening when they 
are gradually falling from the erect into the horizontal position on the 
plant. Also there may be some indication in the colour of the leaves. 
depend upon the 
I am, &e. 
(Signed) D. MORRIS. 
J. Austen Chamberlain, Esq., M.P., 
, Prince’s Gardens, S.W. 
[Memorandum. | 
THE LIFE OF SISAL HEMP PLANTS. 
There are numerous species of Agave (popularly called Aloes) 
belonging to the natural oy coasted ‘yllidee. They are almost all 
monocarpic perennials. That i ey grow on for a number of years 
producing leaves only; finally thuy flower, and this they do but once in 
aA el pue that sera is apparently determined by the nature of their 
environ Usually Agaves under cultivation in this country live to 
a raat a e. On this account they are sometimes ne century Te 
In their native country they live for seven to 15 years. 
the monocarpic species hav e flowered and pedaced Hads or bulbils 
(pole plants) they die. The following notes refer to the Sacqui (Agave 
rigida, war. elongata) and to the Yaxci or Bahamas Pita (Agave rigida 
oar sisalana) :— 
become exhausted, “it is oad to are at proper ena by the sides 
** of the old plants or between them, young shoots which three years 
“ afterwards (and upon the failure of old ones) will be fit for cutting.” 
A new field will gt? “be kept up without any loss of time or suspension 
of work.” (Sisal Hemp, its adaptation to Jamaica, p. 4. 
(6.) Mr. Stoddart describes the poling as follows: “This happens 
when the plant has arrived at cutting age and the plants are not cut,” 
en the pole begins to come out and gains a length of about 
“three or four feet, it is customary to ent it off close without injuring 
“ the leaves. These leaves will then mature and be fit to be taken off 
“ before the plant dies.” (l.c. p. 7.) 
si (c.) Poling appears to be accelerated (1) by the leaves not being cut 
when they have arrived at maturity, (2) by the plants being exhausted 
by numerous suckers allowed to remain around their base, (3) by care- 
less cutting of the leavés. Stoddart, on this latter PAE says: “If the 
stump (or base) of the leaf be left of any length on the trunk it 
