89 
[ Rep. No. 564. ] 
of the actual wastes of the West India colonies would be put under lucra¬ 
tive culture. As to the difference in weight, between equal bulks of Pita 
and common Hemp, Dr. tiamilton has ascertained it to be one-sixth in 
favor of the Pita; and hence, taking the weight ofthe standing and running 
rigging of a man-of-war made of hemp at twelve tons, a reduction of 
two tons in the top weight, would be effected by the substitution of Pita, 
Under the operation of the emancipating laws in the British West Indies, 
the white planters will be forced to propagate fibrous leaved-plants on 
their poorest soils, especially because in their preparation for market, horse 
power can be substituted more profitably and certainly for human power. 
Dr. Hamilton supposes this Pita de Guataca^ to belong to a genus between 
Guzmannia and Pourrettia. He speaks also of another plant, called Pita 
de Tolu, which grows in large quantities at Tolu, is probably a species of 
Agave, and yields coarser, browner, or inferior fibres. 
By the “ Maison Rustique,” published in Paris, 1836, it appears that at¬ 
tention is directed to the American species of Agave, naturalized in the 
south of France, and in the north of Africa. Porteau says, “ Mons. Pavy 
has recently introduced, under the name of Vegetable Silk, very beauti¬ 
ful filamentous substance, which he declares to be of the Agave, and to 
come from the territory of Algiers.” He adds, that the cordage made of 
this silky fibre is very strong, and resists humidity perfectly; arid that 
the same remarks apply to many other objects manufactured of it. Un¬ 
der date of 2d January, 1833, Wm. Shalef, the consul general at Havana, 
wrote to H. Perrine at Campeachy, as follows : “I have many years since 
been aware of the species of Aloes which you are seeking to introduce 
into Florida as a material of manufactures, which I pointed out in a letter 
to Mr. Poinsett, before his departure for Mexico. I have found it grow¬ 
ing abundantly on the arid lands of California, and subsequently in Al¬ 
giers; audit seems to me that it must flourish thoughout Florida, and 
become a valuable item in its exports.” Shall the English and French 
alone produce foliaceous fibres on their poorest soils? 
SISAL HEMP. 
To the Sehor Don Santiago Mendez, Vice Governor of the State of 
Yucatan. 
Consulate U. S. A. at Campeachy, 
February 8, 1834. 
My Dear Sir : Desiring to have the very respectable testimony of your¬ 
self, concerning the culture and product of the Henequens, or species of 
Agave, whose leaves yield the fibres called Sosquil in Yucatan, and Sisal 
hemp in New York, I beg that you will communicate to me the most im¬ 
portant and unequivocal facts, in the following order : 
1st, the soils in which said Henequen grows; 2d, the distance apart of 
the transplanted shoots ; 3d, the time previous to the first crop of leaves; 
4th, the number of cuttings each year afterwards ; 5th, the number of 
leaves annually cut; 6th, the relative quantity of fibres in the leaves; 
7th, the duration of each plant; 8th, th.e reproduction of said plants. 
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, yoiir obedient servant, 
HENRY PERRINE. 
