The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1891-05-30
FAcTs Aeour plrA RAISING.
Eortuurs said to Await the Development
0I u New Fiber rlant.

oIa New Fiber Plant.
Fifty thousand rupees is said TO be the
prize carried of by the machine lately
constructed by Leicester (Engandl
manufacturing house for the successful
| treating of tho pita fiber This prize was
offered by the government of India in
the hope of overcoming the obstacle Of
/ the lack of machine that would turn
out the fiber in tit state for market.
The machine, while simple in construc-
ton, is certainly success. One Ia now
working en- large Nicaragua estate,
and the representative Of the English
manufacturers has recently arrived in
that republic, witha view TO introducing
others,
Now that the hitherto insurmountable
| difficulty has been overcome, it will bo
surprising, indeed, II 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 henuequcn, or Sisal hemp, is
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 il
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 tlouriShes equally well, as in
the valleys along the route of the pro.
posed lntaroceanic railway. II is most
accommodating growth with respect TO
locality. Splendid specimens may be
seen in rocky, unheard of corners or
spriuging 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 1000 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 2,200 to 5000 /
pounds, worth in New York, at % cents
per pound, S616 to Ss96 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 has |
become so dense and powerful that
weeds find little chance. This for
country like Honduras, where labor is
scarce, is a fortunate circumstance. And
in this regard the industry would have
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 un-
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 a
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
cific coast.
In Yoro, Olancho, Santa Barbara and
other scarcely peopled departments is a
country of magnificent possibilities Ex-
stories of it that from time to
lime have been related in the press of
he north have doubtless contributed to
'etard its progress,
Undue stress has been laid upon its
dangerous climate, which in reality is
healthy one. If the lowlands
If the coasts be hot, there is nevertheless
/ constant and delicious sea breeze blow
ng inland, and the nights are always
'ool. The interior is very mountain
'us, with valleys long and wide, at
yarious elevations of from 1000 to 5000 !
eet above sea level. Here, although the t
'ertical suns rays strike hotly upon the
arth throughout the day, the tempera- S
ure in the shade ranges seldom above I
6 degs. Fahrenheit. There is thus no |
ppressiveness. Given these conditions, q
cannot imagine any reason why an
normous success should not he made of
he pita industry.
To obtain plantation of pita would be r
comparatively easy. Suitable land could
e obtained from the government or 9TH
rwise at low figure. The young plants
you'd cost hardly anything. In case of /
large enterprise we'll backed and likely a
D prove beneficial to the country it is q
ute probable that large tract of land a