36 
there are good grounds for believing that tle problem will be ultimately 
solved. The point requiring special attention is to ensure continuous 
action in feeding the leaves to the machine, and so save the time e 
trouble of reversing the leaves before the whole length can be clea 
The automatic feeding attached to some machines whereby the loi 
are presented sideways may accomplish this, but so far such an arrange- 
ment has not been tested for a sufficient time to judge of its practic- 
ability. The urgent demand which will soon be felt in the Bahamas 
for a satisfaetory means of utilising the extensive fibre plantations 
established in those islands will call forth strenuous efforts on the part 
years, and it appears to give satisfactory results. This is fully described 
in the Kew Bulletin, May 1890, p. 98. The labour in Mauritius is 
chiefly supplied by Indian coolies. 
MARKET VALUE OF SisAL Hemp. 
In view of the largely inereased production of Sisal hemp in 
Yucatan, and the extensive planting which is taking place in the 
Bahamas, 'Turks Islands, Florida, and other places, it may be useful to 
review the prices which have been realised by Sisal hemp of good 
quality in this country during tlie last 10 or 15 years. By the courtesy 
of Messrs. Ide and Christie, fibre brokers, of 72, Mincing Lane, 
we are in a position to place on record the average prices per ton of 
Sisal hemp in the London and Liverpool markets for every month 
during the last 13 years from 1879 to 1891, both inclusive. The table 
attached speaks for aay ^ may, however, be useful to point out that 
the price per ton has been as low as 177. 14s. (in January 1886), and 
50/.; 30/.; 267. The average price for the whole period is 287. 10s. 
nearly. Prices ruled highest during the year 1889, when the iiis 
price was 507. per ton. During the year 1891 the average price : 
l. per ton, or nearly one half of what it was two years ovlon in 
1889. The last return issued by Messrs. Ide and Christie, dated the 
15th January 1892, quotes Sisal Sera spot value, at 237. 15s. per ton. 
The market report is, “ Sisal p^ wage fluctuated, "A closes at x 
* top, and 24. per ton higher than =e we last noti 
evident that the market value of Sisal hemp has ivit voti taria 
fluctuation of late years. 
It has already been shown that the bulk of the Sisal hemp produced 
in Yucatan is shipped to the United States. The price paid for Sisal 
ag in the New York market during the last 13 years is therefore 
necessary before we can take a complete view of the Sisal hemp industry 
for that peri 
we can only give returns of prices in the United States, "wm 
— on the 31st December 1891, for the last three years as follow 
1889, 83 cents per pound (401. per ton) ; 1890, 6 cents to 6} cdi nts 
(nominal) UL t o 29l. per ton); 1891, 4l cents to 42 cents (207. to 
201. 10s. per to 
In the anti the complete returns kindly placed at our vo tee dee 
in regard to Sisal hemp in this country cannot fail to be of se: 
mee 
