July 1, 1805.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



555 

 SISAL HEMP. 



BY WILLIAM C. DENNIS, OF KEY WEST, FLORIDA. 



Dr. Henry Pehine, who was for a time consul at Yucatan, among 

 many other exotic plants, introduced into the southern part of Florida 

 the Sisal hemp (Agave sisalana). He also introduced two other species 

 of the Agave, which, from their hardy, self-propagating nature, not only 

 survived the effects of the change of climate, hut increased rapidly, until 

 they were destroyed hy the Indians in 1846. One of them was the 

 " Pulque plant," from which is manufactured, in Mexico, the celebrated 

 domestic drink of that country ; and the other was the " Great American 

 Aloe," or " Century plant " (Agave Americana), the fibre of which is 

 manufactured into cordage and various other articles of use. Of these 

 three kinds of Agave, so far as I know, the Sisal hemp is the only one 

 which appears to be of much importance to us in an economical point 

 of view, although further acquaintance and experiments may prove the 

 other two likewise valuable, especially the latter. 



The gigantic plant out of which Sisal hemp is made, delights'in arid, 

 rocky land, which contains a superabundance of lime. This is precisely 

 the condition of the soil of these Keys and the extreme southerly part of 

 the peninsula of Florida, where alone it could be cultivated in the 

 absence of frost. It requires less culture than other products, but is 

 much benefited by keeping down the weeds ; and although it thrives 

 best on lands which have the deepest soil, yet it grows well y\ here there 

 is but little soil that appears among the rocks, sending its long, pene- 

 trating roots into the clefts and crevices of the rocks in search of black, 

 rich, vegetable mould. In fact, the lands on these Keys, and much of it 

 on the southern point of the peninsula, are nearly worthless for every 

 other agricultural purpose, so far as is known ; yet there are thousands of 

 acres in this region, where a ton of cleaned Sisal hemp can be made to 

 the acre yearly, after the plant has arrived at such an advanced stage as 

 will allow the lower leaves to be cut from it, which takes, in this climate, 

 from three to five years to grow, according to the goodness of the 

 soil, and the attention given to keep the land clear of weeds, grass. &c. 

 It is no longer an experiment here as to the growth of the plant, nor of 

 the amount of the product ; nor is there any longer a doubt as regards 

 the value of the fibre, a number of tons of it having already been col- 

 lected and sent to market, where it readily brought within a half-cent, 

 to a cent, per pound as much as the best kind of Manila hemp ; that is, 

 in the neighbourhood, of 250 dols. per ton. About a thousand plants 

 should be set on an acre, and from many young ones coming up from 

 the long lateral roots, if these be kept at proper distances, it will be 

 seen that the same land will require no replanting, if coarse vegetable 

 manure be applied from time to time. After the plant is of sufficient 

 growth, the lower leaves are cut off, at proper times, leaving enough on 



