7 
the latter, the quantity of fibre yielded would be comparatively small. 
“or convenience of carriage and general management level land is 
preferred. 
Plantations are established by simply clearing the land of trees and 
to give an even surface. Shade is a dis- 
h 
“ pence per acre to line, dig holes, drop suckers, and plant.” A well 
parent plants. These latter are utilised to extend cultivation by being 
planted in nurseries, or are thrown away. Their removal is considered 
n. 
A fibre plantation started with plants about 14 feet high, begins to 
yield in about three years after planting. Any appearance of the 
cease, 
The length of leaves cut for fibre should not be less than 3 feet ; their 
started, is effected in the following ner :—Men ble 
knives select ripe leaves, cut them close to the , remove prickles 
and make them up into bundles of 50 
The works are placed near a regular supply of water. The power of 
the engine and the number of machines required all depend on the size 
of the plantation. One fibre machine is stated to be required for every 
hundred acres of plants. 
After the fibre has passed through the machine it is placed on a 
S 
return of hemp is at the rate of 1,000 to 1,200 pounds per acre, or about 
half a ton per acre per annum. The net return on a fibre plantation in 
Yucatan is estimated at between 4l. or 5l. per acre. 
Plants received at Kew from Yucatan marked “ Sisal Hemp” are 
now growing in the Succulent House No. 5, and lately an experiment 
was made to test the quality of the fibre yielded by them. 
The fibre was extracted by Mr. W. E. Death’s fibre machine, and the 
following report was received upon it from Messrs. Ide and Christie, fibre 
brokers, of Mark Lane :— 
“We are in receipt of the parcel containing a leaf of Agave Ixtli and 
“ sample of hemp made from leaves grown in the 
“ most interesting to us, and we have much pleasure in re rting 
“ favourably on the hemp. The quality and strength are very satis- 
