be adopted or not according to local circumstances. 
Particulars of the machine. The following particulars 
were obtained from Mr.Weicher. The total weight is 3,100 
pounds (avoirdupois). The space occupied by the machine 
with feed table extended is 14 i feet long by 2j feet wide. 
The power required is 10-horse power giving 500 revolutions 
per minute. The inventor has worked the machine in Yucatan 
for a period extending over nearly three months. One 
machine is still in Yucatan. 
Yield of fibre. Mr.Weicher claims it will treat 10 to IS 
tons of green leaves in a day of 10 hours. Allowing the 
leaves to yield 3 per cent, of fibre (in a prepared dry 
condition), this would be at the rate of 672 pounds per 
day as the lowest return, with a possible return (at 4 per 
cent.) of 896 pounds per day. As far as could be judged 
from the recent trial these returns are not improbable. 
It is, however, impossible to offer a definite opinion on 
the subject. The actual capacity of the machine can only 
be determined by continuous working on a Sisal hemp planta¬ 
tion, and with operators who have become thoroughly ac¬ 
customed to it. In a Report on the Sisal hemp industry of 
Yucatan, prepared for the Government of the Bahamas by 
Captain E. Jerome Stuart, (Kew Bulletin, 1892, p. 275), it 
. 
* 
