Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-02-15

price was 3 little over lis per
acre. So far the results that
have been obtained from the
Bahama plantations have fully
justified the expectations formed,
and the expenses incurred in de |
veloping the industry. Two acres
in foil bearing will yield, on an
average. ton of Sisal hemp.
The cost of raising and prepar
ing a ton of the fibre for the mar
ket is estimated at from so to
SIS. Yucatan fibre is sold at from
SGT to $50 per ton. while the
white fibre of superior quality.
such as is grown in the Bahamas,
realises from $40 to ESQ per ton-
As the production of this valu-
able fibre increases, it is extre-
nelly probable that these prices
will not be maintained. but a
reduction in the price Will bring
it into use in so many different
WAYS that the demand will be
greatly increased. The United
States alone absorb $4,000 tons
of this fibre per annum, and OF
late the duty of e3 los. per ton
has been taken off by the United
States Government. The agave
requires four years growth before
its leaves are of sufficient length
/ to be of use. In cultivation the
/ plants are set out in rows about
loft. apart, the same distance
separating the plants in the rows.
When the plants are young the
soil is cross-cultivated three
times year, but as soon as they
have attained height of 34ft.
nothing more is done. From the
fourth year the plantation is IN
full bearing, and the proprietor
has nothing more to do in the
plantation save TO cut the leave:
regularly. As these leaves yielC
only about 5 per cent. of then
weight of Sisal hemp, cartins
them to central depot for treat
ment would cause considerable
trouble and expense. To save
this machines have been invent
ed to do the work on the planta
tons. 1t is estimated that 10(
rcres of agave in full bearing i
sufficient to employ one of these
decnrticating machines.
The Agave rigida is described
by the Reyue des Deu1 Hondes
, from which we take most of th
Information contained in thi
, article, as a plant the stem o
; which is almost invariable be
neath the soil. 1t is crowned b,
numerous intoxicated leaves full,
eft. long, pulpy, thick and rigid
spiny on the sides, and armet
with a formidable sharp thorn a
the point of the leaf An en-
, closure made with the agave j
inaccessible. 1t is a giganti
, herb, and one of its leaves Is
, load for a man to carry. TIL
flower stalk springs from tn
| centre of the plant, and often il
the course of a month obtains
, height of soft. The plant know
, to us as the prickly aloe is a
| almost exact counterpart of tn
Agave rigida. The fibres run th
length of the leaves through
: thick cellular tissue. They ar
, of a white colour, as strong a
the best hemp. and not so liabl.
I to be injured by water Tn
: labour question is an import n
one. In the Bahamas, coloreC
) workmen can be employed E
Is. Cd. to Is. Cd. per day. A,
the plant hourishes in a tropica
climate and in what might b,
described as desert country it j
evident that to carry on the in
dustry Of producing Sisal hem
in Northern Australia cheap la
Dor must be obtained from
India. China, or the South Sc
islands. 1t is d fficult To s.,
what effect the climate and sol
of Australia may b We on tn,
quality of the fibre produce
from this pla- t. but to Judge b.
} what has been accomplished il
the Bahamas the industry is on.
that is worthy of a fair trial
Should the cultivation of thi
plant prove a success considerbl,
a-a,S Of That a-n - -.