1 Jan., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 53 
Mavritivs Heme (Furcraa gigantea).—This is the plant which in Natal 
is usually called an aloe, but it really belongs to a different order. Large 
quantities of its fibre are exported from Mauritius and other places, aud it has 
been grown in Natal, but, chiefly in consequence of the inferiority of the 
machines used, I am afraid that it has not so far been found very profitable. 
The plant, however, succeeds quite well in the coast districts, and if profitable in 
Mauritius should be worth attention here. It is stated that to produce a ton 
of dry fibre ready for shipment 80 to 150,000 leaves are required, varying 
according to the size and age of the leaves and character of the season. 
[Wote—-This is evidently a printer’s error, and should be, I think, 80,000 to 
150,000 Ib. of leaves, and this error was unfortunately copied into the Hurmers’ 
Magazine for July, 1895.] Another statement is—“The account of fibre 
obtained from leaves of the Aloes Vert (furcrea gigantea) was at the rate of 
3 per cent. of the green leaves, the yield per acre being about 13 tons.” 
Srsan Hemp (dgave rigida, var. sisalana).—This is the plant which has been 
so extensively grown in the Bahamas and other places, and is said to be the best 
of all the fibre-yielding agaves. One of the great advantages which this plant 
possesses over other allied plants is that it has no teeth or spines on 
the edges of the leaves to obstruct the gathering or entangle the fibre. 
It is propagated in two ways—from the bulbils or seeds, which are only 
produced when the plant arrives at maturity; or by suckers, which are thrown 
off by the plant in its earlier stages, These suckers reach a length of 1, 2, or 
more feet ; not only from the terminal bud, but also from every two or three 
joints, a plant can be obtained, and the removal of these suckers is actually 
advantageous to the plant. When put out in the field, they should be about 
15 inches high, and the usual method is to allow from 600 to 1,000 plants to the 
acre, but care should be taken to leave a wider space between every fourth or 
fifth row to admit the passage of vehicles for removing the leaves. ‘As the 
weight of the green leaves is so large in proportion to the weight of fibre, 
their conveyance from distant parts of the plantation to the factory must 
involye considerable labour and expense. For instance, if every 100 tons of 
green leaves will yield only about 2 to 3% tons of dry fibre, it is evident that 
an immense quantity of useless pulp has to be conveyed to the factory, and 
disposed of as conveniently as the circumstances will admit. Fibre estates - 
should, therefore, be established on moderately level ground, where light 
portable railways could be laid, or on moderately sloping ground, where wire 
ropes could be used for sliding the leaves in portable bundles to the factory.” 
If the plants are, say, 12 to 18 inches high when put out, cutting may commence 
in four years, as they should then have leaves from 2 to 38 feet long, and catch 
crops between the rows may be obtained with advantage, provided that they 
are not too thickly plaitted; but sweet potatoes should not be planted between 
the rows—at any rate, until the plants are 2 feet or more high. The plant 
does not require rich soil, and most of our worn-out cane lands would, in my 
opinion, suit it well. The yield of dry fibre peracre may safely be estimated at 
half a ton per annum, but in favourable situations would probably exceed this 
estimate. In the Bahamas it is said by Sir Ambrose Shea, in his report, that 
the estimated yield from a plant is 2 lb. per acre per annum, and that 1,000 
plants per acre are now being planted instead of 600 as formerly, which, 
assuming that results are not modified by want of room between the plants, 
will increase the yield to 2,0001b. per acre. The value of the fibre 
has been stated at from £25 to £40 per ton; it has been as low 
as £18, and in 1891 was £56. ‘It is subject to much fluctuation according 
to the state of the market or the excellence of the sample. As to 
the duration of the plant, there is some little discrepancy in the statements— 
oue writer putting it down as a Cea or more, while others limit its 
bearing life to ten or twelve years. Of course poling must be prevented 
—that‘is, the flowering stem must be cut down as soon as it appears, or the plant 
will quickly die ; and root-suckers should be periodically removed, as they tend to 
weaken the plant. As the plants do not pole (or flower) simultaneously, a 
