UT 
where some of the most superb plants observed on the trip were seen. 
In one thicket, to which it was almost im — to obtain access save 
at the expense of torn clothing and lacerated flesh, magnificent plants 
^od seen where the tips of the jenti were two fee t above a man’s 
d 
ea 
“ Indian Key, where Dr. Perrine lost his life, lies miis ee and beyond 
it is Lower Metecombe. Other Keys of the group are Lignum Vite, 
Shell Key, and some lesser ones, upon all of which the: true Sisal hemp 
plants are found in abundance. A very rough estimate of the old plants 
Bahamians living upon them. uperb plants were examine 
by me at Fort Myers on the Caloosahatchie “pie and at other points, 
though there were no such thickets as seen on the Keys.” 
BAHAMAS. 
The progress made in extending the cultivation of Sisal hemp in the 
Hoven as has been "weg duly ‘noticed in the Kew Bulletin. Ina 
ecent ‘report pabana by x James M. Rae, and quoted in the 
it is stated that 12. months i, do pera were 4,199 acres of land in the 
Bahamas planted with Sisal hemp, and the gate number of 
plants actually put out was over two millions and a half. In addition 
to this it was estimated that there were over one million and a quarter 
ursery beds ; and from root suckers and bulbils (called pole 
plants) there would p available Misi the ng six months about 
two million plants According to this pe the total number 
of Sisal plants hilly existing in the Bahamas at the close of the 
year 1891, would not be far short of six millio 
The distribution of the various Sisal hem mp piati, and the methods 
of cultivation pursued in the Bahamas are described in the following 
extracts :— 
av 
small quantity of rope for home use, from the fibre they extracted from 
ie eaf of the Sisal by the primitive method of bruising and macera- 
tio 
* “Tn Abaco are the “ headquarters " of the Sisal industry; for it is on 
ing 
as 200 acres "plated with 130,000 mure some of which 
planted two years ago, have leaves over 3 feet ti Mr. Johnson has 
Hato. of 25 acres, with 21,000 plants, a ad another at Witch Point 
of 60 acres, with 31,200 plants. yore is being planted between 
— rows of Sis 
he Bahama Fibre Co., Limited, of which Mr. Abbott is the 
ti 
another at Great Guano Cay, both of which were planted some years 
ago, and are yielding thousands of pole plants (bulbils) as well as 
large number of suckers, 
