The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-07-13

slightly different. furnishes n Juice
which. being allowed to ferment,
makes the famous Mexican drink called
pulque. Still another variety furnishes
a juice which, when fermented and dis
TILED, makes the liquor called mescal.
1t is estimated that fifty million bot
ties of this liquor are consumed yearly
In the city of Mexico.
Two plants most commonly seen here
In the gardens of Honolulu are species
OF the variety Agave Americana. These
are commonly called the century plant
from the supposition that they send up
their flowers about once in a century,
while In reality the plants send up their
flowers and then die within a period of
about fifteen years. The most common
of these species is a large plant with
fieshy leaves of dark blue color, the
leaves beautifully curved and with lat
eral spines. The sister to this plant
has exactly the same characteristics,
except that, instead of a solid blue,
yellow ribbons of different widths run
the length of the leaf
PROSPECTS OF THE FIBER IN
DUSTRY.
In these islands are thousands of
acres of land lying idle which might
be used for the cultivation of fibers.
The good price the steady demand, and
the excellent quality of fiber produced.
certainly point out that the fiber indus
try here is one Of coming Importance.
We will consider the fbers adapted
to this country OF such il the SAN
sevieria zylanica, most remarka BILE
hber, very much resembling the pine
apple fiber. 1t is slong and round in
structure, has a decided sheen and is
very strong. At present this fiber IL
not used as cordage fiber being too
fine and too expensive, but could be
used for making fabric, which would
be equal to the celebrated pima silk
the value of which is so well known
A fiber industry of this kind could be
established here and IL. conjunction
with 1t textile mill could be built for
the working up of this product.
This would create new industry
here in the line of manufacturing.
There is no doubt as to the adaptabillty
OF sansevieria to this climate. The
plant is seen growing all over the is
lands, and profusely in the gardens of
Honolulu, In a period of from two to
three years, 1t is ready to be cut. 1t
multiplles very rapidly and is easily
harvested and milled. When one con-
siders the many things in favor of this
fiber, IT seems remarkable that 1t has
not been turned into a commercial en-
terprise before this
one Of the other fiber-yielding plants
that grows very well here is the fru-
crala gigantea. This plant grows wild,
and is said to be indigenous The Ha-
waiian name Is malina. which is the
attempt of the natives to say Manila,
a fiber with which they must have been
familiar. This plant produces a fiber
called pita, which is a long fine fiber,
but does not have the strength of slsal
or sausevieria. This frucraia plant Is
very common in the gardens of Homo
lulu, at times growing to a height of
ten feet. The plant very much resem-
bles the sisal, except that the leaves are
much longer and broader, and of n
darker green. In the island of Mauri-I
thus, one Of the principal industries is
the cultivation Of this plant for It's
fiber, 1t being exported for making in
expensive rope.
Another fiber that promises well for
this country is the New Zealand fax.
The production of this fiber Is one of
the important industries of New Zea-
land. This fiber is produced from the
plant phormiumtenax. The plant grows
readily and yields large quantity of
hber. which Is used In the manufacture
OF cordage and textiles. A cloth. which
resembles linen duck, is made from the
fiber.
one Of the native fibers here that has
been used for many years the olona, il
considered one OF the best I'm the world
although very scarce. The fibre comes
from shrub which grows Ia the deep
ravines ~ all the Islands. II IL CON
hldered one Of the strongest fibers
known, ana has been PRICED by tho
natives from time immemorial Tor the
making Of hsh lines aud FISH nets. II
has the peculiar quality Of withstand |
ing ih" effects ~ water and thus seems
particularly adapted Tor hsh lines ana
Tor rordhso used I'M or near the water. |
ono ~ these hbera that has not been
taken advantage o. h the pineapple |
nber Ihis IN grown very extensively |
IN IaVh ANA the fur East Tor cordago |
ana textile purposes, principally the |
latter Everyone knows ~ the cello
hfaied pima rlOih when IL made from
his nhrr w ihosr Islands there arc
tons ana TONS of pineapple leaves 500
InR io waste rerh year bus mat phase
NJ lhe pineapple Industry having never
been given amy attention the nhrr
obtained from those lfaYfs would add
'n ihr financial Interests ~ ihiH splrn
iii industry NhlDh bee luno sp much
~ Improve conditions in ihiH OounTy
Z hr bret quHllii ~ ihlH nhpr 10 obtain.
"a fnm no pineapple plant. Nhiph dnrs
lnl hrAf nuli hpi 10 FipWn nspenlully
.nf ihr nhrr qualify splendid alf0l
nrnH N ihls nhrl az Ions aE fplf hel
ifn nhiHlnrd
AnllN-l nlll nhl.h nlnml-aa Won m