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them ; and, in 1883, when the locust devastated the State of Yucatan, 
the cattle and birds died of starvation, and men were on the eve of 
despair, the only green living plants to be seen were the different species 
of Agaves, and they are now looked upon as the salvation of the State. 
Although not apparently subjected to disease, and capable of resisting 
a drought of 11 months in 12, the plant is not altogether free from the 
effects of sudden changes of heat and cold, and is liable to be damaged by 
severe drought, the rains came on suddenly, with hail and a heavy wind 
from the north-west, keen a fall of temperature from 89 deg. to 57 deg. 
and within one night a t 90 per cent. of the plants were damaged or 
blasted on the ends of ie A ppi an ithe of three leaves to the 
plant being affected, causing a loss of 3 per cent. to 5 per cent. of leaf. 
A similar change after a protrapied dróngtit a ial in this colony in 
March last, when a few of our farms were affected ; but after cutting off 
and the plants remained healthy and strong. Iam told that this fre- 
quently happens in Florida, as the atmosphere is more changeable than 
control, and may happen at any time; but the loss of leaf, 3 per cent. 
to 4 per cent., even 5 per cent., would be so slight that it may be looked 
upon with unconcern. 
I walked through hundreds of acres of the Henequen, but beyond 
noticing that a leaf here me there had a few inches dried on its end, 
similar to what is seen in this colong and Cuba, the plants were per- 
fectly healthy and free ‘aan diseas 
Kinp or MACHINERY USED. 
ere are several kinds of machinery used for extracting the fibre on 
the different estates 
ose cleaning less than 75,000 leaves E day use the large common 
wheels, Raspador and Barraclough ; and those cleaning from 80,000 to 
120,000 per day use the larger and more complicated machines, the 
Prieto, Villamore, Weicher, Death and Ellw 1, &c. 
The planters, if using one of the er ah lacini E hyer of the 
Raspadors in reserve for use in case of accidents; for e large 
machine break down or get out of order, kavai 70, 000 0 r 80 000 leaves 
on hand, and there be no means of cleaning them, it Would involve a loss 
of over 4 000 Ibs. of fibre. 
Cleaning Machines —The Raspador is a 54-inch * wheel," said to be 
invented and manufactured in Mexico. It requires a two-horse power 
e to run it at a steady rate of 200 revolutions per minute, at which 
speed the best results are obtained. ped 500 lbs. dry fibre per day 
of 10 hours; requires the services of two men. 
The Barraclough, constructed by T. Barraclough & Co. n- 
chester, England, is similar to the Sun gare, but of superior aor 
Capacity 500 to 600 Ibs. dry fibre dai 
"The Prieto machine is aeter by Ping and Negre, Barcelona, 
p m hebr à d power engine and the services of t 
ae & Doy. nter 000 Ibs. fibre da of 10 hours, 
