The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-11-05
FIBRES AND FIBRE CULTURE.

ence is made both to ramie and
another fibre rapidly rising into
Importance known as Sisal hemp.
Ramie, which is described by Mr..
VIM. Fawcett, the director of the
Botanical Department of Jamaica,
as having "the appearance of silk
and the strength of fax" is already
known in these islands, and, thanks
to the energy and enterprise of
of Mr.. F. L. Winter, promises to
become a very valuable addition
to our national resources.
It is stated in the article we have
indicated that ramie fibre is in
great demand, with but little avail
able in the market. The State of
Vera Cruz (Mexicol produces one
half of that now being sent into
market. There is a large cash
prize offered by the Mexican Gov
eminent, but the trials lately made
in decorticating and de-gumming
were not considered satisfactory.
Under favorable circumstances,
seven crops in the year is stated to
be the average in Central America.
1t is, however, to Sisal hemp that
we more particularly wish to call
the attention of any possessor of
apparently hopelessly uncultivable
land.
The American aloe or century
plant (Agave Amerlcana) yields the
fibre commonly known as Sisal
hemp, which is, says our authority,
undoubtedly the best known and
most favorably considered of the
American fibre products.
This plant will grow in the most
barren places, on honey-comb rock
and ON arid sands; it will flourish
on "rocky hillsides where the
withered vegetation tells of very
sparse rainfall" and will produce q
profitable crop on land abandoned
and barren.
Other peculiarities of this plant
are that it requires no blowing or
manuring, it has no insect or other
animal enemies; fences are not re-
CURED, for hogs, cattle, etc., all give
Sisal wide berth.
It is perpetual crop when once
ready to cut.
It will last from fifteen to TWEEN
ty-fve years without replanting
according to the nature of soil and
climate, but it requires three years
before it is ready for cutting; all
that it asks of the cultivator is that
it be placed where is the hottest
sun and the poorest soil. can un-
shaded rocky hillside is an ideal
location it will flourish and send
out myriads of suckers where there
seems to be no soil whatever"
In the West Indies and in Yucca
tan it is placed during any month
of the year though the rainy sea-
son is usually preferred. The only
care that it requires besides that to
be taken in cutting for the market,
is to avoid an undue and exhaust
ing growth of suckers, and to pre-
vent it's sending up the long flower
stalk which is invariably the pre-
cursor of death, no matter what
the age of the plant.
These are details of the simplest
character and may be easily mas
tered by the most Indifferent farm
hand.
Sisal takes it's name from a small
seaport town on the northwest
angle of the peninsula of Yucatan
whore it was first made use of and
whence it was first exported, and
where it has now converted yearly
deficits to a handsome revenue. It
is completely changing the aspect
of some of the barest Bahama islets
and thanks to the judgment and
energy of the present governor
and his predecessor the annual In
come of the Bahamas generally is
nearly doubled in the last few
years by the export of sisal.
This fibre requires decortication
but not being of so fine or beautiful
a nature as ramie is much more