8 



Excellent samples of this fibre were shown at the recent Agri- 

 cultural Show, by Mr. SCHIRMER. They were obtained from plants 

 grown in the Botanic Gardens in Singapore and extracted by 

 the llogan machine. It was shown under the name of Bromelia 

 pingutHy but 1 find the correct name of the plant is Karatas plu- 

 mitri. The fibre is rather thinner than that of Fourcroya but 

 stronger and of a very pure silky white colour with a line gloss. It 

 is thicker than Murva fibre. 



In South America where it is cleaned by hand much in the same 

 way as pineapple fibre is prepared by scraping the leaves on a 

 board with a heavy iron knife, it is used for the finest hammocks, 

 nets, fishing lines, ropes, mats, sacking and clothing. " After being 

 combed it has been pronounced to be greatly superior to Russian 

 flax and equal to the best Belgian for application to the finest 

 textile fabrics." (DODGE). 



The chief trouble in working the plant seems to be due to its 

 powerful thorns, which make it troublesome to cut, and which have 

 to be cut off the edges of the leaves before passing into the ma- 

 chine. However, considering the ease with which the plant grows 

 and the excellence of its fibre, it would be well worth more atten- 

 tion than it ever appears to have received. 



Yuccas. — There are a number of species of Yucca, in Mexico, 

 nearly all of which produce a good fibre, and one or two kinds are 

 i u Rivaled here from time to time in gardens as ornamental plants. 

 One of these Y . filament osa cultivated in the Botanic Gardens in 

 Singapore was experimented with in Messrs. HOGAN's machine and 

 a good fibre extracted, the leaves seem to contain a larger proportion 

 of fibre than almost any other tried. The fibre is rather thinner 

 than that of Fourcroya and of much the same colour and strength. 



Attempts have been made to utilise these fibres in America where 

 the plants grow in great quantities, but apparently the business was 

 given up. Yuccas in the Straits grow slowly and the leaves are 

 short, it is indeed more suited for sand-hills and dry open places, 

 and would not be suitable for a wet region like this. It might do 

 belter on the few sandy seashores we have, but it is hardly a 

 plant to be recommended. In some places the fibre is successfully 

 extracted by steeping the leaves in tubs of boiling water after which 

 they arc crushed between cylinders and plunged on hurdles into a 

 boiling alkaline bath of 45 pounds of ashes to 121 gallons of water, 

 where they are left for four hours, then taken out and washed. This 

 simple method of working it is something in its favour, but unless 

 localities in the Peninsula are found more suited for its growth, it 

 can never become an important source of fibre. 



Editor. 



PRESENT PRICES OF FIBRES. 



We have received further notes from the big European Fibre 

 firms as to demand and prices ruling from Mr. SCHIRMER from 

 which I make the following extracts as of interest: — 



