Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-11-28
EAc1s ABOUT PIIA RAISING.
Fortunes said to Await the Developments
| OF New Fiber Plant.

| prize carried OIL by the machine lately
constructed by a Leicester (England)
manufacturing house for the successful
treating Of the pita fiber. This prize was
offered by the government of India in
the hope of overcoming the obstacle Of
the lack of q machine that would turn
out the fiber in fit state for market.
The machine, while simple in construc-
ton, is certainly success. One is now
working on a large Nicaragua estate,
and the representative of the English
manufacturers has recently arrived in
that republic. with view to introducing
others.
Now that the hitherto insurmountable
difficulty has been overcome, it will be
surprising, indeed, if the exploitation of
this vast natural resource of Central
America be not begun and carried on
with zeal and energy. The immense for
tunes that have been made during the
past three or four years in Yucatan from
the hennequen, a near relative of the
pita, would indicate the certain results.
The hennequcn, or Sisal hemp, is a
much lower priced article, selling at
from seven to nine cents per pound,
while the pita, properly prepared, should
bring three times as much. The vast
area of the north coast lands of Hon.
duras afford splendid region for the
cultivation of this plant.
The observant traveller cannot fail to
remark the immense quantities of it
springing up wild on every hand, and
the practical mind deplores the wasting
of such wealth. In one section in par
ticular, the vast country stretching from
Yoro to Truxillo, the pita-the Bromalis
Silvestris, to give it its botanical name
abounds in marvellous luxuriance.
Further inland, in the mountainous
districts, it flourishes equally well, as in
the valleys along the route of the pro-
posed Interoceanic railway. 1t is most
accommodating growth with respect to
locality. Splendid specimens may be
seen in rocky, unheard of corners or
springing from the Drinks of dizzying
precipices. From the stony soil, where
other vegetation were doubtful, it towers
up in astonishing strength and beauty.
Its cultivation is easy. Within eighteen
months Of the planting it has attained
Its full growth. Its leaves are then from
six to nine feet in length and four to six
inches wide An acre of land will pro-
duce from 900 to 1900 plants, yielding
on an average thirty leaves. Each leaf
will weigh probably six ounces in the
green state. This would give per acre
something between 1900 and 10000
pounds.
The proportion of prepared fiber to
the leaf is estimated at 20 per cent. The
approximate yield per acre in marketable
product would be from 1900 to 5000
pounds, worth in New York, at 29 cents
per pound, $616 to 1896. This, in view
of the little care necessary, is result
worth considering. After the first three
or four months the only labor required
is that Of gathering the crop and pre-
pairing it. By this time the plant has
become SO dense and powerful that
weeds find little chance. This for
country like Honduras, where labor is
scarce, is fortunate circumstance And
| AL UllC "Ouu ldNO
the advantage over that of the banana,
the coffee, or even the cocoanut culture.
Hitherto the prevailing interest of
American capitalists in Honduras has
been in the mining industry. No other
natural resource has thus far been given
any thought, to speak of. Yet it is I'M
doubtedly true that immense fortunes
await such enterprising men as will take
to Central America, with their other
capital, the requisites of energy and per-
severance.
The pita culture might well be COM
bined with other enterprise. With
view to easier transportation of the pro-
duct, it would be advisable to select in
Honduras locality convenient to the
road to either Puerto Cortez, Truxillo,
on the gulf side, or Amapala on the Pa
ciic coast.
In Yoro, Olancho, Santa Barbara and
other scarcely peopled departments is
country of magnificent possibilities. Ex-
aggerated stories of it that from time to
time have been related in the press of
the north have doubtless contributed to
retard its progress.
Undue stress has been laid upon its
dangerous climate, which in reality is a
perfectly healthy one. If the lowlands
of the coasts be hot, there is nevertheless
q constant and delicious sea breeze blow
ing inland, and the nights are always
cool. The interior is very mountain
GUS, with valleys long and wide, at
various elevations of from 1000 to 5000
feet above sea level Here, although the
vertical suns rays strike hotly upon the
earth throughout the day, the tempera-
ture in the shade ranges seldom above
76 degs. Fahrenheit. There is thus no
oppressiveness. Given these conditions,
I cannot imagine any reason why an
enormous success should not he made of
the pita industry.
To obtain a plantation of pita would be
comparatively easy. Suitable land could
be obtained from the government or 9TH
erwise at low figure. The young plants
would cost hardly anything. In case of
large enterprise well backed and likely
to prove beneficial to the country it is
quite probable that large tract of land
would be conceded by the government of
Honduras. Honduras Letter.
A Woman's Discovery.
"Another wonderful discovery ha