The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-11-05

SAND miles here, for sale al Szo POI
ton, and all that person here would
have to do would be to cut the marsh
grass, which grows in unlimited guam
tity on all the low lands of the State
and bale it up, surely it would pay TO
ship it. But cannot the machinery
be put up in the State to work IL up
on the spot If they can make
paper of it in England, why not here!
Our climate is better suited TO
paper making than it is in the Nortn'
as we have no winters to interfere
with the work, which can be carried
on the year round. Again we have un-
limited supply Of palmetto, that only
requires capital to develop its value.
For several years we were experl:
menting in fibrous materials for a
company in England, and there is
hardly plant known in the tropics
that we have not tested in some way,
from the leaves of the pineapple to
the stalks of the banana,and, therefore,
know something pracUical on the sub
ject. We have a mine of wealth in
our fibrons plants which will one day
attract attention. 1t will pay to cal-
tivate agaves and sisal plants for the
purpose and also ramie and jate, but
we want more people first, the coun-
try is. not near populous enough to
bring out these things yet. The eli
mate is suited to them and so is the
soil. The people in some parts OF
California are finding out that jute
culture is better paying than wheat
and are turning their attention to it.
Those millions of dollars that are
leaving the United States to pay Tor
bagging materials and cordage must
be kept here, and Florida is the State
that is going TO furnish the supply.
Following are the letters referred to:
New YORK. October II, 1879.
Mr.. William Allen, of your State, has
kindly given me your address, as the
best posted man in Florida on the sub
iect of fibres, and that you would give
me any information desired on the sub
ject. I am about to start for the West
Iudies for the purpose of procuring
fibres, of which the following names are
the plants to which Iintend to give my
attention
l. Maguey.
2. Heniquer.
3. Pine de BATON.
enclose you small sample of their
fbres. The information desire from
you is, whether these plar is grow in
Florida, and if so, whereabouts and if
in profusion Mr.. Allen seems to think
that they do, and says. if any one knows
where they are, you will. should also
like to know how far from a point of
shipment they are found /; also, whether
they can be obtained as in the West In
dies, viz that is for the gathering, as
they are an incubus for the ground a;
also, please inform me as to the cost of
labor where the plant grows. l have a
machine (Which will produce about
1000 pounds day of the Maguey and
Heniquer, and about 100 pounds of the
Pine de Raton) which L am going to
take with me- If these plants can be
found in Florida in the profusion that
they are in the West Indies, l should
prefer going to Florida. The leafo of the
Maguey is about six feet long and seven
inches wide, and weighs two pounds to
the leaf it is very thick at the butt
The Heniquer is of the same specie, but
little 6atter, and the fbres little
coarser the leaf produces one and one
half ounces of fibre, or eleven leaves to
to pound of fibre. The Pho de BATON
is four feet long and three inches wide,
and it takes 100 leaves to make pound
of fibre.
you will kindly give me what infor-
nation you can on this subject you will
oblige me greatly. If agreeable, please
write me what other ibres your State
produces. Mr.. Allen informs me that
your State abounds with fbres which
are not at all utilized. I am in search
of fibres for the manufacturing OF paper
and twines and ropes.
Trusting that You will be able to give
me such information as will induce me
to go to Florida instead of the West To-
dies, as should prefer to remain in the
United States, and thanking you for the
trouble you will be put to,
remain, yours truly,
GILBERT M. ALLEN.
NEWARK. N T Octohar IL. 1879.