4«o 



and there have been extensive cultivations of it in the West Indies. 

 A leaflet dealing with the cultivation « f this species in the Lalbagh, 

 Bangalore, has recently been published by Mr. CAMERON of the 

 Botanic Gardens there. Five thousand plants were introduced 

 from Florida in i8()2 and poling (flowering) commenced in 1901. 

 Each (lower polo produced upwards of 2,0Co bulbils. The soil 

 recommended is loose, stony and poor ground. The plant grows 

 larger in rich land but the fibre is less in quantity and quality. 

 Plants have long been cultivated in the Singapore Botanic Gar- 

 dens, but they seem of very slow growth. Perhaps the country is 

 too damp for it or our stiff clayey soil does not suit it. It might 

 do better in the hills of Penang and Province Wellesley. 



L. & J. RiEBOW, Telegrams. Hanfriebow, Hamburg. 



Consumption of Sisal hemp — practically covering the production 

 ul (his commodity : 



1 903 



1 00,000 



tons. 



!895 



55,000 tons 



1902 



90,000 





1 8(J4 



54,000 



1901 



8 5 ,000 



> i 





50,000 ,, 



1900 



8 1 ,000 



>) 



1892 



56,000 „ 



1 S99 



80,000 



• 5 



1891 



46,000 



1898 



60,000 



> J 



[890 



36.000 



1897 



72,000 



) J 



1889 



38,000 „ 



1896 



60,000 



)» 







SISAL IN YUCATAN. 



Hencquen, or sisal hemp, is grown in Yucatan, in this Consular 

 district, at an elevation of from 28 to IOO feet above sea level on a 

 strip of country generally calculated to be about 40 miles from the 

 sea inwards, in which zone the temperature ranges from 45° to ioo c 

 Fahr. with a mean of about 85°. The plant from which this fibre is 

 produced is of the family of the Americans agave. It nourishes on 

 arid land where the soil is very thin, resulting in the strength ot the 

 plant being driven into the haves instead of the roots, while the 

 roots appear to run along the surface, and from these the shoots are 

 produced and in turn planted. It is very hardy, producing the 

 whole year round, and from the time of first giving fibre, when 

 about six years old, continues producing h aves lor from 12 to 18 

 years. 



