THEE 
AGRKJULTURAL  mAGaZIOG, 
COLOMBO. 
Added  as  a Supplement  Monthly  to  the  “ TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST.^' 
The  following  pages  include  the  Contents  of  the  Agricultural  Magazine 
for  October : — 
Vol.  VII.]  OCTOBER,  1895.  [No.  4. 
GBYLON  FIBRES. 
II E following  reports  made  by  London 
experts  on  certain  samples  of  Ceylon 
fibre  sent  from  tli«  School  of  Agri- 
culture is  rather  disappointing  in 
view  of  the  fiequently  expressed 
opinion  that  there  is  a great  future  in  store  for 
Ceylon  in  the  development  of  its  fibre  resources 
The  following  are  the  samples  referred  to : — 
(1) .  Fibre  and  rope  prepared  from  Sa7iseviera 
zeyUoiica  (S.  Niyanda). 
(2) .  Rope  made  from  the  fibre  of  Fui'crwa 
(jifjantea  ' (S.  G-onegass),  the  common  hedge  plant 
generally  referred  was  “Aloe.” 
(3) .  Floss  from  the  pod  of  Calatropis  gi(/a7i.tea 
(S.  Warn). 
(4) .  Fibre  from  SlercuUa  halanglim  (S.  Nawa. 
llf'port  'No.  I on  the  above  specimem  ■. — “ AVe 
think  that  as  commercial  articles  they  are  little 
wanted,  the  world’s  supply  of  fibre,  generally,  being 
already  not  only  adcfiuate  but  really  beyond  the 
actual  consumption.  C ju,sequeut,ly  all  those 
special  fibres,  against  which,  the  fibres  you  sub- 
mit to  us,  would  have  to  complete,  are  at  the 
lowest  point  in  record,  and  any  new  product 
coming  into  the  market  would  not  in  any  case 
find  a very  profitable  market. 
Sample  No.  1.  The  fibre  is  too  short,  but  is 
well  cleaned  ; a limited  market  might  be  found  at 
present  at  about  Lrf  to  £9  per  ton. 
S.imples  No.  3 and  4.  AV’e  can  give  no  opinion  , 
it  is  certainly  useless  for  the  fibre  (roi)e)  trade. 
Sample  No.  2.  No  market  here  whatever  for 
the  rope,  which  is  very  nicely  mule.  It  could 
only  be  sold  for  the  commonest  purposes,  as 
scaffold  cords,  and  as  we  have  already  mentioned 
other  fibres  are  so  low,  that  the  English  rope 
makers  need  not  allow  any  for..‘ign  rope  to  compete 
with  them. 
We  would  not  advise  either  fibre  or  rope  to 
be  exported  to  England,  except  in  small  quantities 
as  a trial.” 
Report  No,  2. — “ In  my  opinio.i  the  fibre  could 
be  treated  in  England,  but  I could  not  possibly 
say  until  the  fibre  was  tested  in  this  country. 
No.  3 sample.  I cannot  say  as  to  this  No.  It 
is  not  silk ; it  looks  like  cotton. 
I beg  to  say  the  ropes,  or  better  called  lines, 
look  very  well,  and  would  sell  here  as  they  are 
if  shipped  in  coils.  All  these  Nos.  1 and  2 are 
worth  about  £20  per  ton  delivered  in  Loudon. 
No.  1 sample  larger-sized  I hi.  rope. — ^I  have 
tested  one  of  the  strands  three  times,  and  this  stands 
a breaking  strain  on  the  average  of  26o  lbs.  test. 
No.  1 sample  smaller  size  f in.  rope. — 1 have 
tested  one  of  these  strands,  which  averages  16o 
Ib.s.  test. 
No.  2 sample  3 strands  larger. — The  larger 
sample  tested  to  280  lbs. 
No.  2 sample  3 strands  smaller. — Tested  224  lbs.” 
OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 
In  our  last  issue  on  page  27  instead  of  the 
heading  “ Vines  and  Line  Supports”  read  “ Vines 
and  Live  Supports.” 
The  reports  on  India  Agave  fibre  as  given  on 
another  page  should  encourage  all  land  owners  to 
adopt  either  A.  Americana  ov  A,  Vivipava  to  the 
