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product — and is a member of the family of plants which yield the 
fibre known as bow-string hemp. 
3. The Sansevierias belong to the natural order Hcemodoraceoe 
. and are small perennial plants with short, thick 
assi cation. rhizomes and fleshy or leathery radical leaves, mot- 
tled or spotted, and varying according to the species from two to 
seven feet in length. 
Most of the species are natives of tropical Africa, but are widely 
distributed throughout the tropics of both hemis- 
Habitat. pheres. Probably the most common species in the 
Malay Peninsula is S. guineensis, which yields the Konje hemp. 
It is a somewhat similar plant to S. zeylanica, which also occurs here 
in a state of cultivation but has larger and flatter leaves and pro- 
duces a more valuable fibre. 
4. Sansevierias are easily propagated by division of the rhi- 
zome or from seed, or more readily still from the 
Propagation. leaves, which may he cut into small pieces about 
three inches long and placed in a moist situation when they will 
readily take root. 
5. With the exception of S. Ehrhenbergii, which is a native of 
C | t vat'on Somaliland and would probably only thrive in an 
Probably vatu- arid situation, these plants enjoy a good soil, moist 
able as a “catch climate and a moderate amount of shade, and for 
cr0 P- this reason would probably be valuable to Para rub- 
ber planters as an auxiliary crop. 
The young plants should be put out about two feet apart and 
the same distance between the rows, and when once established 
they may be regarded as a permanent crop, yielding regular cut- 
tings of leaves several times a year. 
6. The leaves of all the species contain an abundance of fibre 
t noted for its fineness, elasticity and strength. Murva 
fibre is as yet hardly known to commerce, but is 
largely used by natives, who hold it in high esteem for making bow - 
strings, ropes, mats, etc. The fibre from S. guineensis (Konje fibre) 
and S. cylindrica (Ife hemp) are much valued in Europe for the 
manufacture of ropes, especially those used for deep sea soundings. 
7. The fibre is obtained from the fresh leaves, either by scrap- 
Preparation of ing away the cellular tissue by means of a blunt knife 
the fibre. 0 r by washing and beating. When the pulp is 
thoroughly removed the fibre should be washed in clean water and 
hung in the shade to dry, and when perfectly dry packed in bales 
and pressed and is then ready for export. 
It will be seen that the method of preparation in vogue is quite 
simple, although the fibre would doubtless be improved bv the aid 
of a suitable decorticating machine. 
8. I am not in possession of any data with regard to the yield 
y jf { ld of leaves or of prepared fibre in this country ; but, 
judging from the plants I have seen scattered about 
