6 
Tt is widely distributed in the West Indies, and has been grown 
experimentally for the sake of its fibre at St. Thomas, Jamaica, and 
Trinidad. 
As regards cultural treatment, the following information is taken 
from notes prepared Z. the late Director of the Botanical Department, 
Jamaica, on this and S. zeylanic 
“In the first instance plants may be put out at 3 feet by 3 ri 
we re allowing for roads and paths, would give about 3,000 to th 
ef ac If the soil is kept well broken and moist, these plants by the 
e eiietisiotl of root suckers, will spread in all directions, so that ulti- 
* regards the time which must elapse between planting out and the 
“ first yield of leaves suitable for fibre, there would appear to be a great 
“ difference of opinion. Plants which I saw at. St. homas at three 
“ whole of that time, was of opinion that Sansevieria plants could not 
“ be depended upon to yield a crop before three or three and a half - 
Or ss oy sated aed: 
“From actual trial tests in India, tee nr of an acre was 
bs cultivated ith Sansevieria zeylanica, it appears that full grown 
“ leaves of three to three and a half feet hong ‘(heir actual age is not 
a aiei yielded about 1 lb. of clean fibre for every 40 lbs. of 
“ fresh | That is, the weight of clean dry fibre was at the rate 
“ of 21 ier eat. of the fresh leaves. Dr. Roxburgh calculated that 
“ one acre would yield 1,613 pounds of clean fibre at a gathering, two 
* of which may be reckoned on yearly, ‘ina good soil and a favourable 
“ < season, after the plants are of a pro 
“This would be at the rate of 14 tons of fibre per acre per annum at 
“ the end of three or three and a half years, of the gross value (at the 
“ rate of 30/. per ton) of 45/7. Whether this return can be depended 
“ upon for the West Indies on an extensive area I am unable to say.’ 
and recite more fo edie both ends are sgiam ran the centre is 
3 « dirty. ry = dressed properly, would be as good as S. zeylanica, 
< Vite nt 
In Sept vast, His Excellency Sir William Robinson, Governor 
of Trinidad, pan ded to Ke ew, samples of fibre of this species, which he 
stated had been prepared “at the convict depdt at Chaguanas without 
. Ide 
“ a better colour and of equal if not superior strength, e value it for 
“ rope-making purposes at 207, per ton in London. The small piece of 
