SISAL HEMP. 



An article on Sisal Hemp has appeared in the February number of the Kew Bulletin, extracts 

 from which are given below. It will be seen that this article confirms my opinion that planters need 

 to consider carefully both soil and situation before embarking in the cultivation. At the same time 

 those who have decided to undertake this new industry, should lose no time in planting, and they 

 should moreover plant large areas. The larger the area, the smaller will be the working expenses per 

 100 acres. W. F. 



Keav Bulletin on Sisal Hemi\ 



A remarkable development of the cultivation of Sisal hemp in the Bahamas has taken place during 

 the last three years. The Governor, Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C.M.G., has enl.sted such widespread 

 interest, it might be termed enthusiasm, in the subject, that hemp-growing has become tor the 

 moment, one of the most prominent of the new industries of the tropics Frequent inquiry has been 

 made at Kew, in regard to the plant yielding the best qualities of Sisal hemp and information has 

 been sought by official and other bodies to enable them to judge of the suitability of the plant for 

 cultivation in other countries. The position taken by Kew in this matter is a very simple one. I he 

 various varieties and forms of Agave rigida, Mill, the species from which the several sub-species and 

 varieties yielding Sisal hemp are supposed to have sprung, have been carefully studied, ana living 

 specimens have been added to the collections in the Royal Gardens. In this respect, the collections 

 at Kew at the present time are probably as complete as any m the world. . 



Further than this an effort has been made to furnish from time to time in the Keic Bulletin such 

 information as could be obtained respecting the methods of cultivation and the incidental conditions 

 of the industry likely to be of general interest * The Bahamas are fortun ate in possessing a soil and 

 climate very favourable to the production of excellent fibre. They also h ave the great advantage of 

 possessing/on the spot, immense quantities of plants of the best variety known to yield Sisal hemp. 

 This varieW is of rapid growth, and is easily handled. It has no side teeth to obstruct or retard the 

 process of harvesting, and the people generally appear to have supported the action of the Governor 

 to such an extent that the establishment of the industry is now within meas urable distance of being 



accomplished. ^ ^ . § ^ waQt of & machine that wi u eua ble the planters to extract the 



fibre in an effective and economical manner. As a last resort there is the somewhat crude and clumsy 

 machine long used in Yucatan, but it is probable that before any lengthened period has elapsed a 

 machine of a more suitable character will be forthcoming. tfi^Mi'V, , 



t_ a — ^ff™** u; n <> marie t.n.RstRWish.n fibre mdustrv in 1 lor ida, where more than 



60 years ago, plants of oisar hemp were introduced and partially established by Dr. rerrine. A 



special Report prepared by Mr. Charles Richards Bodge of the Department of Agriculture at Wash- 

 ington [Fibre Investigations, Report No. 3, 1891], has lately been issued on the subject. In this Re- 

 port an account is given of the distribution of Sisal hemp plants in Florida and the adjoining Keys, 

 and it is recommended to utilise these as the starting point of a regular industry. Mr. Dodge says 

 " what can be done in the Bahamas I have reason to believe can be accomplished in this country 

 " [Florida] .... "We have the soil, the climate, and the plants. The combination of capital 

 "and inventive genius with these conditions must work out the problem, if indeed, the question is not 

 already practically solved. ' A further account of the efforts made to establish Sisal hemp plantations 

 in Florida is given later. 



A small but promising effort is being made to grow fibre at some of the Turks and Caicos Islands, 

 and plants obtained from this source and from Florida have been introduced into most of the West 

 Indian colonies. 



A short account has been prepared, mentioning most of the localities where plants of Sisal hemp 

 are now found, and this account will afford useful material for enabling those who may wish to do so 

 to decide as to the wisdom or otherwise of embarking in a fibre industry at the present time. At 

 the close of the article, a statement is given of the average price per ton obtained for Sisal hemp in 

 this country during the last 13 years. 



Yucatan. 



Information respecting the Sisal hemp industry in Yucatan has already been given in the Kew 

 Bulletin for March 1887. Since that time an effort has been made to obtain direct from Yucatan a re- 

 presentative collection of the various Agaves cultivated in that country for fibre purposes. 



Through the kind offices of the late Mr. Augustus Baker, Her Majesty's Consul at Vera Cruz, 

 a large plant with a tall stem and flowering panicle was received at Kew in May, 1890. The plant 

 was dead on arrival, but it has since been prepared as a museum specimen, and is now deposited in 

 Museum II. The dimensions of the plant are as follows: length of stem (below the leaves) 4 ft. ; cir- 

 cumference of stem 30in. ; number of leaves on stem, 50; length of leaves about 4ft.; breadth of 

 leaves 3| in.; length of peduncle 14 ft. The branched panicle was received in an incomplete condi- 



* The following articles have appoarod in the Kew Bulletin on Sisal hoinp and allied fibres from species of Agave: 



18^7, March, p. 3, Sisal hump (Affave rigida, var. tisaUma). 1887, March, p. 10,Keratto fibre (Ayave Morritiii). 1887, 

 December, p. 5, Mexican fibre or l itlo (Ayave hitevacantka). 1889, March, p. 57, Bahamas hemp (Ayave riyida, var. 

 gimdaua). 1889, October, p. 254, Bahamas hemp (Agave riyida, var. eipalana). 1890, March, p. 50, Bombay aloo fibre 

 (Agave vivipaai). 189i», July, p. 158, Haliamas hemp (Agavt riyida, v;ir. si(dlono). 1890, October, p. 220, Mexican fibre 

 or Istle (Agave helexuxirdha). 1890, December, p. 273, liluo production in the Caicos. 1891, May and June, p. 133, 

 Keratto fibre (Agave Morrisii). 1891, July, p. 175, Bahamas hemp (Agave rigiiUi, var, sisalana). 



