21 



The " Pine-apple family " or Order (BromeliaceEe) includes 

 several valuable fibre plants, notably the common piiie-apple 

 itself. We have but one species, however, likely to prove hardy 

 enough for cultivation in this colony — " Bromelia sylvestris," the 

 wild pine-apple, or " Silk Grass" of British Honduras. 



Of the " Blood-root family " (Haemodoracese) there are two 

 samples from " Anigozanthos flavida " or " Kangaroo-foot flower " 

 of West Australia (a plant which thrives here remarkably well), 

 and also of Sanseviera or " Bowstring Hemp," but I cannot 

 recommend the latter plant for even trial, as it will not withstand 

 our Victorian winter. 



More than twenty kinds of fibre belong to the closely-allied 

 families of the Iris, Narcissus, and Lily. First, the " Iris family'' 

 (Iridese) gives " Moraia (Iris) Robinsoniana,^' or " Wedding- 

 flower" of Lord Howe's Island, whose fibre is suitable for paper 

 making. In 



THE "NAECISSUS FAMILY" (AMARYLLIDE^), 



the Doryanthes or " Spear Lilies " of New South Wales and 

 Queensland (four species) furnish from their long broad leaves 

 masses of fibre of great strength suitable for rope, matting, cord- 

 age, coarse cloth, &c. (Vide Figs. II. and III.) They are 

 easily propagated by division of the roots or from seed, which 

 is produced in great abundance. Samples of fibre from these 

 plants forwarded to the Colonial Institute measured 6 feet in 

 lengtli. A rich-red colouring matter exudes from the leaves 

 of Doryanthes Palmeri* during the process of boiling, so that, 

 in addition to its usefulness as a fibre, it may prove valu- 

 able as a dye plant. Fourcroya gigantea, known as " Mauri- 

 tius Hemp," " foetid green Aloe," " Cabuja," and " Giant-fibre 

 Lily," and " Fourcroya longceva," known in Mexico, Jamaica, 

 and other places as "Silk Grass," "Cuba Hemp," &c., have also 

 yielded, from specimens grown in the Botanical Gardens, fibres 

 4 to 5 feet in length ; and, although frosts will sometimes dis- 

 ■ colour and somewhat damage the outer coating of the leaves, yet 

 the fibre remains uninjured. The fibre of the first-named species 

 has been known to realize as much as £28 per ton in England. 

 The Agaves are amongst the most useful of this family for the 

 manufacture of stout ropes. (See Figs. IX. and X.) 



Agave Americana, under the various names of " Century 

 Plant," " American Aloe," " Mexican Aloe," " Spanish Aloe," 

 "Toddy Lily," " Carata," and "Pita" or "Pita-Hemp," is the 

 most common and best known in this country. The drought- 

 enduring character of the plant is extraordinary, and it will 

 thrive in any soil, rich or poor. Barren waste lands in arid 

 regions might be planted with profitable results. After, say, 



* Also from Doryanthes Chdlfoylei—" The Giant Queeiislani Lily." 



