The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-06-18
BY J. V. HARRIS, NJ. D.

(The following report of the fibre plants of Flor
ida was prepared by DR.. J. V. Harris, of Villa
Franca, for the United States Department of
Agriculture and copy of it kindly furnished us in
advance of it's publication by the Department of
Agriculture
In answer to the circular from the Department
of Agriculture with regard to the cultivation of
fbrous plants. I beg leave to submit the follow
ing remarks
removed to Florida from Mississippi in Janu-
ary, 1870, and settled at Miami (old Fort Dallas)
on Biscayne Bay after remaining there anumber
of years [ removed to Key West, where /
mained until quite recently, when 1 removed to
my place in Lee county, upon the south bank Of
the CaIoosahatchee River. Being impressed with
the capab bilties of South Florida for the produc-
ton of fbrous plants-from my arrival in the
State up to the present time-I have continued
to observe and experiment upon the different
flores which attracted my attention worthy of
notice; and have only been waiting for the inven-
ton of a machine that would clean fbres prOita-
bly,, to go into the business believing that but
short time will elapse before improvements upon
the existing machines will give in of them
all that can be desired. I gradually getting
in a stock of those plants which seem to me to
promise the best results
sIsAL HEMP (AGAvE sISALANA).
Ny first experience with Sisal hemp, which
found growing luxurantly upon my place (old
Fort Dallas) upon Biscayne Bay, at the mouth
of the Miami River. This plant at maturity,
would estimate to have between forty and fifty
leaves, from three to six feet long and from two
to four inches broad, terminating in a sharp,
stout, brown thorn prickle.
AS soon as the plant reaches maturity it puts
out from it's center, stem about four inches in
diameter. which grows to the height,of from fiji
teen to twenty feet. The plant does not blossom,
as is commonly stated, but this stem is covered
for about six feet from it's top with numerous
panicles of miniature plants, which, when they get
ito be from two to three inches long, drop from
the stem and take rOOtin the ground. This is the
way the plant is propagated it sometimes throws
off suckers or shoots from the roots, the main
plant dying out completely.
set out row of these plants, about six or
eight inches apart for the distance of one mile,
for the purpose of making hedge; did not cul-
tivate, as l had been told ''That they would
grow anywhere, upon the poorest land, and would
take care of themselves" The consequence was
that got a very small portion-ess than half
of my plants to live; at the end of four years only
a portion of these had reached maturity.
| discovered afterward that many plants OF the
SisaI hemp take five and even six years to get
their full growth. 1t is certainly safe to say that
along the coast in South Florida no crop of
plants of the Sisal hemp will reach maturity in
less than four years.
When the plant reaches it's full stage of devel-
opment, if not cut and used it will die, and an
other four years must be spent in waiting for
crop.
1t is repeatedly stated that Sisal hemp will.
grow upon the very poorest lands, and requires
no cultivation, but will take of itself and kill