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of merchants who valued it at £25 per ton in London, with sisal 
hemp at £26 per ton (December, 1913). It was further remarked 
that fibre of this quality would be saleable in large quantities for 
cordage manufacture and that a more valuable product could 
probably be obtained by extracting the leaves with modern machinery 
and brushing the fibre produced. 
The following fibre plants, namely, Furcnea sp., Sisal hemp 
( Agava rigida , var. sisalana ), and Manila hemp ( Mum textilis ) have 
been grown here with a considerable amount of success. 
Manila hemp is propagated from suckers which are planted out 
at distances of about 8 feet. The first crop is collected when the 
plants are two years old. Furcnea and Sisal are propagated by 
suckers or bulbils, and may be planted out at distances of 10 feet 
each way. The plants come into bearing in their third or fourth year. 
These fibres should not be interplanted with anything which 
provides heavy shade, but grown as sole crops in preference. 
Ipecacuanha ( Psychotria Ipecacuanha.) 
This plant requires a great deal of care and attention but can, 
unquestionably, be successfully grown in Malaya. Specimens of 
dried root grown at the Kuala Lumpur Experimental Plantation were 
recently forwarded to London for sale and the under-mentioned note 
was received regarding the sample. “ The result of the analysis, we 
may say, compares favourably with other results which have been 
reported to us. Prices for Ipecacuanha have fluctuated violently 
during the war and at one time Joliore reached 17s. per lb. but high 
prices attracted unusually large supplies of Brazilian and values have 
fallen. The demand for this description was chiefly for Germany 
and has entirely ceased. Present value is about 8s. per lb.” Propa- 
gation is by root, stem and seed. Root cuttings are made about 
y inch in length and planted in a horizontal position in boxes 
containing 2/3 sand and rich jungle mould. The permanent distance 
of planting is 18 inches. Ipecacuanha must have shade throughout 
its period of growth. The plants are ready for lifting when two 
to two and a half years old and yield from 2 to 3 ozs. of 
marketable root per plant. The roots require to be carefully lifted, 
thoroughly washed, sun-dried and all foreign matter removed before 
being sold. Ipecacuanha can be grown as a catch-crop under 
moderate shade. 
Chenopomujm (G\ ambrosioides , var. cmthelmint icwrn . ) 
This plant produces wormseed oil which is becoming of 
considerable importance on account of its use in the treatment of the 
disease known as American hook worm, or ankylostomiasis, and 
it is probable that there will be a fair demand in the near future. 
Seed was i*eceived from Maryland, U.S.A., in the beginning 
of 1916 and two crops have been harvested up to date. One lb. 
