207 
owing to.lack of pressure ; nog mc is leaving it too long in the sun or 
air, which gives it a brownis 
When a Lechuguilla has beii once pulled it is called atean imar 
capona, a all succeeding growths of heart leaves will have withered 
eave 
seen on Istle fibre in this country. After each pulling, a P fibre of 
succeeding leaves naturally becomes more stunted and co 
he Haciendados generally bale the fibre in rough Tatle sacking in 
200 Ib. bales, and when sufficient —_— is on hand it is sent “the 
nearest central town or railroad depô t by trains of ox teams tiga carry 
quently on the road ie rr to 20 days, slowing for areata 
and Jaumave are about this distance from Tampico, San Luis Potosi, or 
mountain passes. In the valleys a team can be seen at a great 
distance by the slohd: ne white dust rising lazily around it. This dust 
so fine and light that it hides the mules from the occupants of a 
Ds running ‘before the wind. The mountain tracks are of the 
roughest description. They are full of aap and deep hollows n 
out by the mountain torrents, an roken wagons are as common a 
irli a aa 
e from plants gathered in the mountains is, as a rule, coarser 
and kde than that of those gathered in the valleys. The greater 
average length of the Jaumave istle is possibly accounted for by the 
lower altitude and greater fertility of the district. The — of fibre 
obtained from the Lechi aguillas and Palmas.-is about 5 per cent. of the 
a 
fine matting. The cogolhos of the palma loca, palma baréta, and palma 
real go through exactly the same process as the Lechuguilla, with the 
exception that, having much harder flesh, they have to be borled before 
the fibre can be drawn. This boiling or steaming, which goes on until 
the leaves are completely soft, turns the fibre a brownish colour, and at 
the same time makes it ae. soft by dissolving the stiffening gum in the 
flesh. Many men h ented seat which were to have revo- 
lutionised this hand eee but all, up till now, have failed—not in 
the quality of the fibre produced, ee ‘the ome have been ae ood i P 
respect—but in the cost of working. In reeless deserts of Mexi 
there is no fuel and no water. Machines bike hitherto kaare bólk; 
Water, especially, for washing the fibre—an operation that is not required 
in the hand process. Also with the best machine there is more effort 
and system required, sr = nothing of the ormo of an intelligent 
mechanic. A fortune is no doubt awaiting the 1 who can bri ing a 
machine to bear suioaeatalle on the millions of seeds "of closely growing 
agaves and yuccas of Mexico, whose fibres, besides their use in brush- 
making, mats, and sacking, are available also for paper when properly 
treated. Paper is already made from the maquey fibre in works outside 
Saltillo (Coahuila). The stems of the palmas, Soe are a spongy mass 
of fibre ready for oae and pulpi 
The bulk of the fibre aohia from Mexico now goes to the United 
States, where it is nsed for brush-making and for twine for reapers and 
binders. A failure in the harvest in America will, therefore have an 
appreciable effect on its price. England and Germany : 
