(Enclosure.) 



Preparation of Maguay Fibre. 



The leaf is first soaked in water until it becomes quite soft and pulpy, 

 which takes place in about a fortuight. It is then drawn between the 

 thumb and finger* which easily presses ell tin' |>ui|>, having a clean fibre. 



pressed together, nothing but the fibres passing through. But this 

 method is a very wasteful one, as many fibres are broken. 



Amongst the many iws to whieli maguay is applied may be mentioned 

 that of violin strings, for which it is much appreciated by the natives. 



Manila, May 1891. (Signed) J. H. Osmond. 



The specimens kindly obtained tor Kew through the good offices of 

 Mr. Alexander Gollan, Her Majesty's Consul at Manila, were received 

 in good order. They consisted of fresh leaves of an Agave in different 

 stages of growth, and therms as little difficulty in recognising them as 

 bslonging to Agave vivipara,L. (A. Cantala, fioxb.), the plant which 

 (according to Kite Hull, tin. IS 90, p. 50) yields also Bombay Aloe 

 fibre. The distribution of this plant so tar eastward as the Philippine 

 Islands does not appear to have been specially noticed before. It is 

 originally an American p 1 — * 



given t 

 people 10 n 

 Europe it is often 



South America is distinguishei 

 of Mexico Agave vivipara is 1 



The method of preparing the fibre at Manila, described by Mr. 



process of maceration is no! at ad well adapted tor extracting the fibres 

 from leaves of monocotyledonous plants. The fibres are discoloured by 

 long immersion in water, and during the process of fermentation, ex- 

 tending over a fortnight, the strength of the ultimate fibres is greatly 

 weakened. It may. therefore, be readily understood the value of Manila 

 Aloe fibre is comparatively small, and it can onh be profitable to produce 

 it when the price of white-rope fibres is exceptionaUv liiirli. In the last 

 Monthly Circular (dated the lCth March 1*9:5), issued by Messrs. Ide 

 and Chrhtie, of Mark Lane, Manila Aloe Fibre is dismissed with a few 

 ^ords. — '■ nothing doing, 17.?." ! per cut.'. In the same circular Bombay 

 Aloe Fibre is described as "dull at 8v. to 135." [per cwt.]. 



CCCL— BOTANICAL ENTERPRISE IN 1796. 



-•.nice of the efforts made nearly 100 years 



to draw attention, in the pages of the Kcu- 



