52 
fibre ” of commerce, and to inform you in reply that a copy of the 
has been forwarded to the Government of Bombay for their safcewaltion 
and guidance 
The specimens and information for which you ask wil at once be 
mitted to you on receipt from Bombay 
Iam, &e. 
The Director (Signed) * J. A. GODLEY. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. BS 
Inpa Orrice to ROYAL GARDENS, Kew. | 
AS) À India Office, Whitehall, S.W., 
Sm, January 21, 1890. 
In continuation of my letter of the 23rd March last, I a 
directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council io forward ‘bares 
with a copy of a letter dated 13th December 1889, with its. enclosure, 
from the Never of Bombay on the subject of the “ Bombay Aloe 
fibre ” of commerce. 
The box of. specimens referred. to. has: been forwarded separately to 
your address by carrier, 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) C. E. eheu 
, Ey 
The Director, Revenue and Statistics DégPtauf nt. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[ENcLOsuRE. | 
AccoMPANIMENT to the Bombay Government Despatch Her 
e mm of State for India in Council, No.: 52, dadi 13th 
Report's y d pede Direetor, Land Records and A ltu: 
No. 2262, dated 23rd November 18 889 :— Le ee 
Un m E has the honour to ^ rad by rail a box Sonn six 
ts (useful for panting), and a full grown plant of Agave 
= (die common species of Agave grown in the Bombay Presi- 
The Aloe fibre shipped under the name of * hemp" [or Aloe 
bec] from Bombay comes chiefly from the Bombay Karnátak and um 
Central Provinces. It is not possible to sre from the trade return 
details of the export trade in the Aloe fi 
3. The Bombay Aloe fibre is repaid. f rom Agave vivipara, Agave 
Americana being rare. 'The plant grows wild, but nowhere in abun- 
ce. Nor is it anywhere cultivated s ially rs igen fibre. 
It is chiefly used as a ces. a he edge 
ae rote is preferred to Cactus [Opuntia] and Milk-bush [Euphorbis] 
though it requires a greater br eadth than other s plants, it is 
I ^ In such places it is planted close 
with a view to allow water onl to pass z5 the an and retain 
silt, When planted sufficiently close it serves as a dam and prevents 
entrance of rain-water of neighbouring fields. Te the Bombay Karnátak 
H is the chief hedge plant along railway lines. For fencing it is planted 
to 3 feet apart according to the quality of the soil. 
