4P7 



which attains a height of thirty or more feet tali. The supply 

 of leaves from such a spot would be endless, and if a manufactory 

 of fibres from the leaves could be started in such sp >ts, it would 

 doubtless pay very well and help at the same time to keep down 

 a nuisance. 



Besides this plant we have also the common seashore Pandanus 

 fascicular is (Pandan Duri) so abundant everywhere. The leaves of 

 this are quite long enough for fibre purposes, and could readily be 

 used in any quantity. It can be easily grown from cuttings in damp 

 low-lying ground, and might also be grown as a low hedge plant 

 to keep out cattle, etc. 



Pandan Mat-bags. — Air. SCHIRMER was awe-struck at the 

 Agricultural Show by the appearance of the mat bags made out of 

 the leaves of Pandanus fascicular is, which are familiar to all as 

 being commonly used by the Malays for carrying rice, etc. Similar 

 mat bags are used in Mauritius for sugar, but the demand there 

 has been so great that the supply of pandans, known there as 

 Vacoa, is p r acticallv worke 1 out. There is a demand there for 

 two million and a half of these nags a year, and there seems to be 

 Certainly an opening here for a big business in them. 



It woald be necessary that they should be made cheaply and 

 some plan of compressing them for export to avoid excess of 

 freight would bz required. There is sailing ship communication 

 between Singapore and Mauritius, and it may be hoped that the 

 Malays in the Peninsula will be induced to make these bags oa a 

 large scale for export. Samples of the bags as used in Mauritius 

 have been sent to the Botanic Gardens to show what is required. 



Other fibres. — Mr. SCHIRMER has kindly put at my disposal 

 extracts from letters from the Messrs. RlEBOW of Hamburg, ex- 

 perts in the fibre trade as to samples of the fibres he has sent to 

 them, prepared by the new Machine. Messrs. RlEBOW is having 

 the samples valued, but at present he gives the following as prices 

 which they would probably realize. 



Aloe [i.e. Fourcroya) commonly known here as Mauritius hemp 

 £30, Murva /.'35, Pine-apple £30-35, Fisarig £25 for 1,000 kilos 

 ex quay Hamburg, with usual allowance on weight and discount, 

 pressed in bales of about 200 kilos, packed in straight folds. The 

 cleaner and whiter the goods and the longer the fibre the better 

 will be the prices they fetch. 



Of Murva fibre he says: — " The quotation of hand made (£50) 

 seems to me too high. Sanseviera well cleaned of good colour, 

 "length and strong is wanted here in very keen demand and big 

 quantities. The price of Kamie is about £30, there is a good mar- 

 ket for it. Aloe (Mauritius) fibre quotation to-day /."20 to 32. 



Pine-apple £20 to 35 according to length."' 



