Batu TiOtA, 27th May, 190S. 
Sib, 
THE GROWTH OF MURVA FIBRE. 
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of jour letter No. R.G. 
3581/03 of the 23rd instant on the subject of Murva fibre, or Sansevieria 
zeylanica, and to report as follows: 
2. Murva, or Moorva fibre is the product of Sansevieria roxburghiana — Source, 
now recognised as distinct from S. zeylanica, which plant was formerly 
supposed to yield this 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 Hoemodoraceoe and Classification, 
are small perennial plants with short, thick rhizomes and fleshy or leathery 
radical leaves, mottled 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 distri- Habitat, 
buted throughout the tropics of both hemispheres. 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 
produces a more valuable fibre. 
4. Sansevierias are easily propagated by division of the rhizome or Propagation 
from seed, or more readily still from the leaves, which may be cut into small 
pieces about 3 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 Somali¬ 
land and would probably only thrive in an arid situation, these plants enjoy 
a good soil, moist climate and a moderate amount of shade, and for this 
reason would probably be valuable to Para rubber planters as an auxiliary 
crop. 
Cultivation. 
Probably valuable 
as a “catch 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 cuttings of leaves several times a 
year. 
6. The leaves of all the species contain an abundance of fibre noted Product, 
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 scraping away Preparation of the 
the cellular tissue by means of a blunt knife or by washing and beating. ft1nt 
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 by the aid of a suitable 
decorticating machine. 
8. I am not in possession of any data with regard to the yield of leaves Yield, 
or of prepared fibre in this country ; but, judging from the plants I have seen 
scattered about in the Peninsula, I should imagine that these plants could be 
grown quite as well here as in Jamaica, for example, where the return of fibre 
from S. guineensis is estimated at 1^ tons per acre per annum, valued in 
London at £30 per ton. 
wumm 
mam 
WM 
