Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-04-22
rTrE E.yDEs.y HOE FIBRE.

Mr.. Graham, the chairman of the Bonn
bay Chamber of Commerce, has, we per-
ceive by our latest files from the far East,
openly made an announcement which may
somewhat startlc cotton growers and deal
ers. lie invites the attention of the trad
ing world to the excellence of the Indian
aloe fibre, and hints the intention of the
colonial government to encourage the cul-
tivation of the valuable plant as something
destined to enhance the resources of the
Empire most Importantly.
The authorities have already offered
premium of $4,000 to stimulate the invcn-
ton of cheap and durable machinery for
the extraction OF the fibre of the RheG, or
China grass and pineapple and banana
leaves are also worked up by other inyen-
tions. But, it seems that some special inn
provement Is required for the manipulu-
ton of the aloe. That obtained, there is a
great future before thu product. 1t grows
in all parts of India in every kind Of soil,
and is everywhere .seen, not only in the
hedge rows, but growing wild in the jun
giles. In the Dharwar district, it makes
the only hedges that the people have, and
often attains its most flourishing appearance
In the drycst and stonicst ground. 1t suf-
fers but little from either rain or drought,
Is one OF the hardest plants in the coun-
try, and could be raised by millions of
plants in all sorts of waste places. Thus,
the first production would be attended by
the minimum OF expense. For many
years past, machinery of different kinds
has been imported by the Indian cultvat-
ors, but none, thus far, that meets the aloe
CT sc. Hence, this fibre, and that of other
plants like it, is obtained only in the dsa-
greeable and tedious way, which consists
in pounding out the thrcady strips, with
common beetles or mallets, from the leaves
after the latter have rottod. But, apart
from the filthiness of this system, it great
ly weakens the fibre itself.
An American invention, by Messrs. NAL
Tory and Sandiord, was shown at the Lon
don Exhibition in 1862, which was good
for the extraction of fibre from either plan
tain banana, or nloe leaves, but II is too
costly and complicated for the everyday
use of the uninstructed native Tyots or
feld-hands, and is likely to be superseded
by a new invention, introduced by a Mr..
ptOhuSS5 hahuopiiic
fl bre from the ordinary leaf, in about three
minutes.
In the Bombay Presidency, the aloe may
be raised in lmitless quantities, and ex-
periments in its use are now in progress on
several large estates. One of the local ma
hobs has reclaimed large tract, which was
formerly nothing but swamp; has drain
ed it, freed ii from salt, and now has plant
ed it with about 10000 aloes. Meanwhile,
fibre extracted from the aloe leaves, by the
old sleeping and heating process, is yield
Ing beautiful fibre, and the Spectator feels
sanguine Of great results on his new plan
tation. The plants reach perfection in two
years. and then yield succession ofleaves.
Already, the iibre commands from S35 10
$40 per ton in England, and it cannot be
long ere 1t will figure upon the export Ia
bles of the East Indian colonies. OF course
with wider cultivation, and cheap and eff
fectve machinery, its price will go very
much lower.
In the meantime, we do not anticipate an
early com etitiGn between the aloe fibre
aud the old established staples, but the
strenuous efforts that British spectators
are making TO procure a new fibre, are
worthy of close attention. We have no
doubt that, when the time comes, these
substitutes will be met by others on this
side of the ocean, or by a finer cotton at
less rates. As tits, the movement striking
ly illustrates the tendency of the age to
utilize every acre of vacant ground, and
every shred of material that can either be
caught and saved from other worn-out
texture, or from hitherto neglected prod
ucts of tho soil.-Mercdntilc Journal.