8 
4 factory, while in respect of colour, lustre, and fineness of fibre your 
sample is superior to. the average Sisal hemp that comes to this 
“ country. The value of this article is exceptionally high at present, 
“ 27l. per ton in London. You will see from’ the statistics given in 
“ enclosed circular that this material is an ests Ain one and is exten- 
< ees used both in England and America. . It enters into competition 
with Mani hemp and was regarded as an adulterant of the latter in 
“ rope; but as its price is now nearly as high as that of Manila the 
Sek ae not the same inducements to mix the hemps 
VI og pase m ES HEMP. 
y emp industry was started at the Mauritius to utilize the large 
ber of plants of n es Senla which had spontaneously 
established themselves on low lying lands near the sea coast. This is 
and i 4 
leaves reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet. The leaves are 4 to 7 fee eet long, 
4 to 6 inches broad at the middle, unarmed, bright green and channelled 
down the face. The scape or terminal flowering stem reaches a height 
of 20 to 30 feet. Like all the other Furereas this species produces 
A full account, with description, of the various species of Furcreea is 
given by Mr. J. G. Baker in Gardeners’ Chi omicle (1879, pp. 623, ier 
Furcrea gpiggntea is figured in the Botanical Magazine, t. 2250 : Wig 
b. 2025 : Decandolle, Plantes een t. 126. 
me “Feros gigantea a, known locally as Ahi vert, is the chief 
fibre plant in Mauritius, there is evidence that Furcrea cubensis is also 
found there as well as species of Agaves such as T americana and 
others. 
Bojer (Hortus Mauri itianus, p. 353) mentions the Aloés vert (Furcrea 
gigantea) as common in 1837, and states “Croit sur Ja M 
Cc. 
Furcrea gigantea is ppppoced to have been ogn ga from South 
America to Mauritius about 1790. It has evidently found a congenial 
home there, for without any effort on the part of man it has covered 
waste lands and abandoned sugar estates to such an extent as to lay 
foundation of a considerable fibre industry. The leaves are often 8 feet 
w ives off a strong pungent odour, and hence this species is 
sometimes a bak Soetid aloe, e juice is strongly corrosive and 
soon acts upon t iron; it is said to ce less e o 
plant grom in all soils and up to an-elevation of 1 800 feet above 
the level of the sea. It has, however, more generally disseminated itself 
A fibre in industry was started at engine about 12 years ago when 
the wet or retting system was tried. e cut leaves were first passed 
through the rollers of a sugar mill and ste a in water for some days. 
The fibre was then washed and beaten out by hand in running water. 
