202° 
aroei appi nothing but the fibres postin’ through.’ But this 
ethod is a very wasteful one, as many fibres are broke 
t the e many uses to which maguay is sj may be mentioned 
that of violin strings, for which it is much appreciated by the natives. 
(Signed) J. H. OSMOND. 
Manila, May 1891. 
The tea ays kindly obtained for Kew through the good offices of 
Mr. Alexander Gollan, Her Majesty’s Consul at Manila, were received 
in good pater They consisted of fresh leaves of an Agave in different 
stages of growth, and there ers little difficulty in recognising them as 
belonging to Agave sie oe deda A e Roxb.), the plant which 
(according to Kew Bulletin, 1890 . 50) yields also Bombay Aloe 
fibre. The distribution of this plant So far eastward as the Philippine 
Islands does not appear to have been specially noticed before. Itis 
originally an American plant, and it owes its spread in India, at least, to 
its use as a hedge penk % keep back cattle. The local name Magua oH 
given to it at Manila, is a generic coe applied by Spanish-speaking 
people to numerous aes of Agaves. For instance, in the south of 
Europe it is often applied to Agave americana, although this plant in 
South America is distinguished as Maguay de cocuyza. In some parts 
of Mexico Agave vivipara is known as Theo-metl. 
The method of preparing the fibre at Manila, described by Mr. 
Osmond, is very crude, and the result is necessarily unsatisfactory. The 
process i een | is not at all well adapted for extracting the fibres 
from leaves of monocotyledonous re The fibres are discoloured by 
long i manatee in water, and dur the process of fermentation, ex- 
tending over a fortnight, “the st eant of the ultimate fibres is greatly 
weakened. It t may, therefore, = readily understood that the value of 
Manila Aloe fibre is comparatively small, and it can only be profitable to 
produce it when the price o ject dle fibres i is exceptionally high. 
the last Monthly Circular (dated the 16th March 189 reid issued by “Messrs. 
Ide and Christie, of Mark Lane, Man ila Aloe Fibre is dismissed with a 
few words,—“ nothing doing, 17s.” [per ewt.]. In f e same circular 
Bombay Aloe Fibre is described as “dull at 8s. to 13s.” [per ewt.]. 
pi 
5 
LXIII—MEXICAN FIBRE OR ISTLE. 
(Agave heteracantha, Zucc.) 
[K. B., 1887, December, pp. 5-7.] 
nder the name of Mexican fibre or Istle, a short and somewhat 
harsh and stiff fibre comes into the London market, which is used in the 
manufacture of cheap nail and scrubbing brushes, and for various 
purposes where a sabento te for animal bristles is sera ssrs. 
Ide and Christie raantion “that this fibre is pretty largely imported for 
“ brush-making purposes, and its value in London rioih ‘October ri, 
“is 267. per ton. The range of value of late years has been 221. 
“per ton to 50/. per ton. The fibre is quite unique as a meier 
“ substitute for animal bristles, and is used in the manufacture of cheap 
“ brushes of all so 
The origin of this tbe oo fibre or Istle has been involved ina good 
deal of doubt, but we believe that we have been able to trace its origin 
