12 



land is necessary for its successful cultivation, but merely to remove the impression, if such there be 

 that the plant will thrive in dry arid sand, or on rocky land void of soil. Worn out " provision" and 

 pine- apple fields appear to be well suited to its cultivation, while on broken, rocky surfaces, containing 

 innumerable " potholes" and crevices, in which is deposited the ordinary black or red earth, the plan 1 , 

 luxuriates. Nowhere have I 6een it appear more flourishing than on such lands. Certain kinds of 

 white or sandy land, found in large quantities at some Ulands, also suit it admirably. One of these 

 varieties, white on the surface from being bleached by the sun, ou being turned discloses a dark co- 

 loured mixture resembling salt and black pepper, and is known locally by the term " salt and pepper 

 land." 



Another still darker coloured sandy soil is termed " Mixed" land. Yet another kind, which 

 although white on the surface, is found to be of a reddish colour an inch or two below, and is very fine 

 and close. These varieties doubtless possess some organic matter, and are not to be confounded with 

 the loose coarse sand found in scrubby plains and bay ridges, producing a natural growth of stunted 

 palmettos and low brush, and on which nothing else will grow. Persons who have seen S'sal, cocoa- 

 nuts and guinea corn growing on the white land that fringes the Eastern shore of Andros, and also on 

 the white land of Abaco, Grand Bahama and Harbour Island, will readily understand the djscription 

 of soil to which I have reference. The Sisal plants g .owing opposite " The Caves," in the Western 

 part of New Providence, afford another illustration. 



In selecting such land for planting, the height of the indigenous growth will in general afford 

 sufficient indication of its adaptability to Sisal. Where this attains to ten or fifteen feet, the land is 

 all right, but, where there is only a dwarfed »row h of three or four feet, the soil is tjo poor to culti- 

 vate anything on. It is however gratifying to know that there is but a small per carnage of such land, 

 in the colony. 



With respect to aspect, I think the general experience is that hilly situations have a marked be- 

 neficial effect on the growth. Plants growing on the slope of a hill especially a hill facing the pre- 

 vailing direction of the wind, grow much more rapidly than those on low level land. Nevermind how 

 rocky the surface may ^e, if it is loose broken rock, with plenty of interstices containing a little soil 

 in which the roots may ramify, the plants will grow rapidly and sucker abundantly. The plant is one 

 that admittedly rejoices in plenty of air, and it is just such situations and soil that best meet this 

 requirement. 



In the preparation of the land for planting, too much care cannot be bestowed. Burning should 

 never be performed in dry weather, or the soil, which in most cases is merely a superficial deposit of 

 vegetable mould, will be destroyed 



Crop. — The length of time required for the production of the firit cutting of leaves may, I think, 

 safely be regarded as four years from the time of planting. A great deal depends upon "the size of 

 the plants when transplanted, but if they be of a suitable size, say from 12 to 15 inches without doubt 

 the leaves will attain a length uf 4 to 5 feet and be fit to cut, well within the period named. I have 

 seen thousands of plants with leaves from 2 to 3 feet long that had been growing ouly 2 years ; and I 

 have also seen plants, that I was told were three years old, from which leaves hai been already cut. 



For the present, the yield per acre with us, can be only a matter of calculation, in consequence of 

 the industry having been so recently begun; but sufficient positive experience has been derived, to de- 

 termine this point with approximate accuracy. The number of leaves cut from many plants of four 

 year* growth and upwards, has given an average of forty leaves per tree, with an average weight of 

 3 ^lbs. per leaf, and a yield oi <±°/o of cleaned fibre. With an average of 600 plants to the acre, and 40 

 leaves weighing 60lbs. to each plant, the yield would be 38,O0Ulbs. of leaf and l,4401bs. of cleaned fibre. 

 If the estimate be reduced to 35 leaves, there will be 31,5001bs. of leaf and 1, 26016s. of fibre, and this 

 i* certainly a very modest estimate. To guard against all possible disappointment, however, the yield 

 per acre can be safely placed at half a ton. The plant, I firmly believe, is capable of yielding a much 

 larger percentage of fibre than is at present obtained, if a machine can be produced that will obviate 

 the great waste incurred by those now in use. The matter is oue of such urgency, there can be little 

 doubt that the want will ere long be supplied. 



Much of the success of the industry will depend in a large measure, on the shipments of fibre 

 being of excellent and regular quality. Too much care cannot be taken to ensure this result. If the 

 fibre once gets a bad name, the price will iule low for years to come ; aud therefore it would be most 

 unpardonable, if by careless methods of preparation, we lost the high character which the fibre has al- 

 ready acquired, in the markets in which it has been introduced. 



Weeds. — I have not observed very much difference in the weeds that grow on the several Islands. 

 Wild ochra, wire weed, ar.d shepherd's needle are encountered everywhere, from Grand Bahama to 

 Inagua. Another weed that is most plentiful and troublesome, and of which there are three or four 

 varieties, is known by different names — namely — bark birch, white bark, black bark, bark, cough bush, 

 glove bush, &c. The above weeds do not generally make their appearance in newly cut fields until 

 after the first year, the cleaning during that period, being confined to the removal of the growth on 

 the stumps of trees left standing in the field. This is termed " sprig weeding." In old fields, and 

 especially those on white land, weeds grow exceedingly rank, grass of various kinds such as bur-grass, 

 bed- grass, wire-grass, &c, is also very abundant, but on whito land, is easily removed with the hoe. 



In the fields in the pine forest the weeds most abundant are the wild potato — also known as wild 

 yam — and a coarse fern or bracken. The vines of the wild potato are very troublesome, for they en- 

 twine themselves around the centre leaves of the Sisal plants and prevent their unfolding and expan- 

 sion. Tlie growth of the fern is very rapid, but it is easily pulled up ; and I question much whether 

 its presence is hurtful to the field. 



All of the weeds above named, with the exception of the wild potato and fern, are generally eaten 



