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Fibre. — The fibre ol Mauritius hemp is extrac ted from the leaves 

 by simply pounding and beating the leaves with w ater and washing 

 the fibre so extracted or by machinery. The first method is used 

 l>v natives of India when! the plant is largely grown, and the fibre 

 is sent home under the name of Bombay Hemp. It is of very in- 

 ferior quality. 



A number of machines more or less suitable have been invented 

 for the extraction of Mauritius hemp, one of the earliest and best 

 known was Death's machine. It. however, was not altogether satis- 

 factory, and the Hogan Machine which has been Utely mentioned 

 in the Bulletin seems to be a more satisfactory working machine. 

 Very excellent samples of the libre of F. gigantea were exhibited 

 at the Agricultural Show last year prepared by this machine. 

 Formerly there was a factory and plantation of Fourcroya at 

 Pulau Battam, South of Singapore, where Death's machine was 

 used. It turned out good samples of the hemp, but prices were then 

 low and the death of the manager put an end to the estate. The 

 juice of the leaves is very corrosive, and acts on iron, but is said to 

 produce less effect on east iron, and none on bras- and copper. It 

 is very irritating to the hands and India rubber gloves arc required 

 in manufacturing the fibre. 



DODGE gives the out-turn ol fibre from leaves <>| F. cubensis at 

 from 2.05 to 3.15 per cent of green leaves. In Jamaica Dr. Morris) 

 366^ lbs. green leaves gave 28 lbs. green fibre weighing j.l lbs, when 

 dry. This works out at 2.05 per cent of the green leaf. Mr. 

 SCHIRMER in the table of comparison of fibres published below, 

 obtained 8,06 per cent wel fibre which when dry gave 2.69 per cent. 



The fibre is white strong and bright somewhat thicker than Mur- 

 va, and is much in request for bags, cordage, carpets and the like. 

 Its value is approximately £2$ per ton, when of good quality*. Re- 

 cent values will be found in recent numbers of the Bulletin. 



Mauritius hemp is undoubtedly a plant well suited for cultivation 

 in the Malay Peninsula. It is very easy of cultivation requiring very 

 little expenditure and no great amount of labour. It is easily pro- 

 pagated, and gives a very fair proportion of fibre from the leaves, 

 indeed, it will be seen from the table annexed that it is only ap- 

 proached in this by Karatas, and gives double or more than double 

 what can be obtained from Manila hemp (abaca), common plantain 

 and pineapple. It is easy to work and constantly in demand. 



i here can be therctore no rea.-on why this cultnation should not 

 be re-introduced en a large scale and with the suitable machine now 

 in use, might give a very good return, either as a permanent cultiva- 

 tion or as a catch crop while rubber is growing, In the latter case 

 if planted round and through the estate along the paths and borders 

 it would also act as a protective hedge against the w ild beasts which 

 attaek the young rubber plants. — Editor. 



