DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 289 



to the keys, and that the people, though ignorant of its value as a fiber plant sub- 

 sequently became alarmed at its rapid extension, and endeavored to eradicate it. 

 A little later Dr. Harris became interested in the growth of the plant with a view- 

 to embarking in its cultivation as an industry. Beyond establishing a small planta- 

 tion, however, I have been unable to learn that any practical results followed. 



Preparation and cultivation. — In 1892, when the writer visited Key West, he 

 was able to secure from Dr. Harris interesting information regarding the best manner 

 of multiplying the young plants, which were photographed in different stages of 

 growth. In propagating the plant, for convenience the leaves are cut into sections 

 about 4 inches long and inserted into boxes of earth to the depth of about 2 inches. 

 The soil must be moderately dry, as too much moisture will cause the leaves to rot. 

 The boxes must be placed in a moderately shady place, and in a few weeks' time the 

 slips will put out numerous fibrous roots, which will soon be followed by suckers. 

 The plant can also be readily propagated by sections of its rhizomes or roots, which 

 grow without any difficulty. It was stated that the plant requires good, rich soil to 

 succeed well, and will under favorable circumstances acquire its full growth in about 

 twelve months' time; ordinarily, however, it will not acquire its full growth until 

 sometime in the second year. In the reports of experiments with another species, in 

 Jamaica (Kew Bull., May, 1887), the time of growth to maturity is placed at three and 

 a half years. (See remarks on culture, under S. guineensis.) Dr. Harris, nevertheless, 

 states that when once the land is stocked with its growth it will always, when cut, 

 give a full growth from the roots inside of twelve months ; so that it is perfectly safe, 

 after the second year, to count on a full crop every year, the growth of each year 

 becoming denser, and in a few years becoming so thick that it would appear to 

 be impossible to cultivate it; which, however, appears to be needless, as when once 

 fully established it takes entire possession of the soil, entirely eradicating everything 

 else. It does not appear to materially exhaust the soil, as it will grow for a number 

 of years in the same place and continue to make vigorous growth. 



As to yield, it was stated that after a plantation is well established it is possible to 

 secure a crop of 5 tons of clean fiber per acre. The experiments of Dr. Roxburgh, 

 however, do not give such figures of yield, as 1,613 pounds of fiber at a gathering 

 was estimated, or, at the rate of two crops a year, a little less than 2i tons of fiber. 



* Specimens of the plants are growing in the conservatory of this Department, and 

 of the fiber, in series, are preserved in the Mus. U. S. Dept. Ag. See Report No. 5, 

 Fiber Investigations series, Dept. Ag., chapter on Sansevieria. 



Sansevieria roxburghiana. Moorva. 



This species has been known and prized in India from remote antiquity under the 

 name of Moorva or Murva. In the catalogue of Indian fibers, London (Exhibition, 

 1862), it is called Moorga, Moorgavee, or Moorgdhvee. It is also known under the ver- 

 nacular names of Murgavi, Murga, and Hazool. Its Sanskrit synonym is Goni. The 

 plant "was long confused with S. zeylanica, but Sir Joseph Hooker (Flora of British 

 India, VI, p. 271) has shown it to be quite distinct. The leaves reach 4 feet in 

 height, narrow and semicircular in transverse section, faintly clouded with black. 

 The plant is cultivated for the sake of its fiber, and is the original bowstring hemp 

 plant. The many uses to which the fiber is applied in India are fully described in 

 Watt's Dictionary of the Economic Products of India, VI, pt. 2, p. 460." (Dr. Morris.) 

 From this it would appear that the following statements by Dr. George Watt refer 

 to S. roxburghiana the true Indian species, and not to the Ceylon species S. zeylanica. 



Structural Fiber. — From the succulent leaves is extracted a fiber held in high 

 esteem by the natives on account of its elasticity and consequent suitableness for 

 bowstrings, Sir W. Tones says: "From the leaves of this plant the ancient Hindus 

 extracted a very long thread called Maurvi of which they made bowstrings, and 

 which for that reason was ordered by Menu to form the sacrificial zone of the mili- 

 tary classes." Roxburgh, iu his detailed account of this fiber, makes the following 

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