FIBRE OF ENDOGENS. 127 
other in fineness of fibre, and therefore of fitness for the 
manufacture of similar textile fabrics, which are esteemed, at 
least, by the people of the East, and worn by them. All may, 
moreover, be twisted into fine twine or cord, and the refuse 
form excellent materials for paper-making. The Pita or Agave, 
commonly called Aloe, as well as the Yucca, New Zealand 
Flax, Manilla Hemp, and the outer fibres of other Plantains, 
are coarse in texture, and fitted for cordage, at least for ordi- 
nary purposes. But if we take the Manilla Hemp as an 
example, or the French experiments on the Pita, or its employ- 
ment for naval purposes in South America, we may consider it 
as fitted, with ordinary precaution, for most of the purposes of 
cordage, as well as from its lightness for upper rigging. In the 
experiments made at Madras, the Agave fibre grown there 
certainly did not stand the trial to which it was subjected. 
But, as we have stated in the article on the subject, the cause 
of this is not easy to determine, whether owing to natural 
weakness of the fibre, or to the high temperature of the water 
in which the ropes were exposed, producing fermentation and 
consequent decomposition. All of these, as well as the finer 
kinds, are well fitted for paper-making, and therefore cannot 
fail to be always in demand. 
In cultivating any of these on account of their fibrous 
product, it is an important point to determine the proportion 
in which this is yielded by the several plants. In this, as 
might be expected, there is considerable discrepancy in the 
statements of different observers—some mentioning a few 
ounces, where others find pounds of fibre. By some, from 
one seventh to one tenth part of fibre has been obtained, but 
this will depend upon the greater or less dryness of the leaves 
operated upon. In the experiments upon New Zealand Flax, 
it was calculated that 16 cwt., or 1792 lb. of fibre might be 
obtained per acre. Dr. Roxburgh obtained two crops of 
1613 lb., or 32261b., per acre of the Moorva fibre. In one 
statement respecting Plantain fibre, it is stated that 600 1b. of 
fibre may easily be obtained per acre in addition to the fruit, 
but others, calculating upon four or five pounds per plant, and 
only 450 plants to the acre, calculate that from 1800 lb. to 
25501b., or about a ton an acre, might easily be obtained. 
Others, counting upon the suckers which are successively pro- 
