Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-06-05
FACTS ABOUT PlTA RAISING.
sr,,,,,,.. said TO Await tho Development
of IA New Fiber Plant

u
constructed by a Leicester (EhglaIu,
manufacturing house for the succeSs.",
treating of the pta fiber. ms pflHe was
offered by the government OF lilui'
the hone of overcoming the obstacle o'
the lack of a machine that would tui"
ont the fiber in a fit state for hlarAe''
The machine, while simple IN cons'iuo-
ton, is certainly success One is NO"
working on large Nicaragua estate
and the representative of the Engllsh
manufacturers has recently arriVeu III
that republic, with a view to introducing
others.
Now that the hitherto insurmountapie
difficulty has been overcome 1t VIII NC
surprising. indeed, il the exploitation %
this vast natural resource OF oelUra
America be not begun and carried on
with zeal and energy The immense lot
times that have been made during the
past three or four years IN 1ucatah iloiii
the hennequen, a near relative Oh the
pita. would indicate the certain results
The henneouen, or Sisal hemp. Is
much lower priced article, selling al
from seven to nine cents per pound,
while the pita, properly prepared, siiouiu
hrinc three times as much. The vast
area of the north coast lands of Hon
duras afford a splendid region for the
cultivation of this plant
The observant traveller cannot fail 10
remark the immense quantities OF II
springing up wild on every hand ana
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 Bromalls
Silvestris, to give it its botanical name
abounds in marvellous luxuriance.
Further inland in the mountainous
districts. it fiourishes 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
M 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 tc
the leaf is estimated at 20 per cent. The
approximate yield per acre in marketable
product would be from 1900 to 1920
pounds. worth in New York, at % cent;
per pound, S616 to 1896. This, in view
of the little care necessary, is a 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 ha
become so dense and powerful tina
weeds find little chance. This for
country like Honduras, where labor i
scarce, is a fortunate circumstance. AM
in this regard the industry would hav
the advantage over that of the banana
the coffee, or even the cocoanut culture
Hitherto the prevailing interest o
American capitalists in Honduras ha
been in the mining industry. No othe
natural resource has thus far been give
any thought, to speak of. Yet it is III
doubtedly true that immense fortune
await such enterprising men as will tax
to Central America, with their othe
capital, the requisites of energy and pei
severance.
The pita culture might well be con
bined with other enterprise. With
view to easier transportation of the prt
duet, it would be advisable to select
Honduras 4 locality convenient to IL
road to either Puerto Cortez, Truxill,
. on the gulf side, or Amapala on the P;
cific coast.
In Yoro, blanche, Santa Barbara an
other scarcely peopled departments is
- country of magnificent possibilities. E.
aggerated stories of it that from time
+ time have been related in the press
the north have doubtless contributed /
retard its progress.
Undue stress has been laid upon i
dangerous climate, which in reality is
p perfectly healthy one, If the lowlanC
of the coasts be hot, there is neverthele
a constant and delicious sea breeze bloy
q ing inland, and the nights are alwa,
q cool. The interior is very mountain
+ Gus, with valleys long and wide,
4 various elevations of from 900 to OF
+. feet above sea level. Here, although Il
n vertical SUMS rays strike hotly upon ii
: earth throughout the day, the temper
4 ture in the shade ranges seldom abo,
r rs dogs. Fahrenheit There is thus I
a oppressiyeness. Given these condition
|. | cannot imagine any reason why {
enormous success should not he made
the pita industry.
To obtain a plantation of pita would
comparatively easy. Suitable land cou
n be obtained from the government or OF
II erwise at low figure. The young plan
IS would cost hardly anything. In case
j. large enterprise well backed and like
# to prove beneficial to the country it
e quite probable that a large tract of Ian
!, would be conceded by the government
q Honduras Belize (Honduras) Letter.
Where Fife and Bride Are
Duff house, where the duke and due
y ess of Fife are now staying, has be
" closed for many years, except during
owners annual autl1mn visit ,ub