A COLONY IN THE MAKING 
CHAP. 
II 4 
closely as possible without interfering with the working 
of the cutters, and when the crop is completely 
harvested to allow the ground to fallow for one year at 
least. For such a purpose 6 feet by 6 feet, or possibly 
closer, is to be recommended. This plan, of course, 
necessitates the taking in of an increased area, a fact 
to be borne in mind in selection of site. Obviously 
this latest method is to the comparative advantage of 
British East Africa, where the actual production of a 
full-grown sisal plant on fresh ground implies no 
additional expenditure ( i.e ., will be paid for by the 
catch crops). 
The amount of water necessary for the efficient 
washing and decortication of fibre is another debatable 
point. It may be said, however, I hope without fear 
of contradiction, that 2,000 gallons a day is ample for 
an output of two tons, and without doubt there are 
methods by which this amount may be very materially 
reduced. Machinery is both cheapened and improved 
nowadays, but is still the principal outlay to be faced. 
To deal with the produce of 300 acres annually a total 
initial cost of say ,£3,000 must be faced. A thousand 
acres is about the smallest area which will economically 
support a factory, bearing in mind a possible drop of 
prices in the future. For such an area a capital of 
£5,000 would not come amiss, though some of the 
best authorities place it at a considerably lower figure. 
Under present conditions, sisal fibre can be placed 
on the market from suitable localities at about £13 
per ton, including interest on capital and any and 
every contingency and there seems no real reason 
to suppose that the price will drop below £20. It 
cannot too strongly be insisted that organisation or 
the lack of it spells success or failure, and that 
