A. sisalana—Sisal or Grass hemp (Max., Sosquil ; C. AMER., Cabuya ; Ync., Henequen).— This species of agave has many features in common with the preceding. The chief home of the plant is Yucatan, but it is a native also of Mexico, Honduras, and Central America, and has been successfully introduced into Florida. It has likewise been recommended for culture in Victoria. In Yucatan, two varieties are distinguished—the yashqui, producing the better quality ; and the sacqui, yielding the greater quantity. The cultivation of the plant is very simple. The land selected is stony and dry. The young plants, 2-3 ft. high, are set out about 12 ft. apart, and weeded twice yearly. In 4-5 years, the lower leaves are cut off; the operation being repeated annually for 10 years and upwards. At intervals of 2 years, 5-10 new shoots are thrown up ; one of these is left to replace the parent stem, while the others are removed to form new plantations. The leaves measure 2-6 ft. long, and 4-6 in, wide. The annual yield of clean fibre is about 1 ton an acre.
The native mode of preparing the fibres is to serape away the pulp from each side of the leaf, by means of a triangular strip of hard wood, with a sharp edge, working against a board. Washing and sun-drying complete the operation. The process is well suited to preserve the fibre, but it is very slow, the yield being only 5-6 lb. a man per diem. Beating the leaves, steeping them in an alkaline solution, or retting them in water, and hackling or combing the fibres, have been unsuccessfully attempted. The machines described for the preparation of the fibre of Agave americana (p. 913), and of Ananassa saliva (p. 917), are equally well adapted for this. Special machines also have been introduced. One of these, known as Patrullo's, and made by It. H.
Allen and Co., New York, is shown in Fig. 631. The thick end of the leaf is first inserted, while the other is held by the grip a; the brass scrapers b, affixed to the periphery of the wheel c, remove the pulp from that portion of the leaf. The latter is then turned round, the clean end being twisted around the T-piece d, which holds it securely.
The machine is covered by a wooden hood when working. It requires 2 H.-P., and should have a velocity of 120-150 rev. a minute. The out-turn of clean fibre is about 350 lb. a day. Four hands are employed : 2 cleaning ; 1 carrying away the pulp, or bagasse, as it is called ; and 1 drying the fibre. The ttvo last may be boys. The bagasse is used as cattle-food, and would perhaps make inferior paper. The fibre is sun-dried for about 4 hours, and is then pressed into bales, usually 3 ft. by 2 ft. by 2 ft., and weighing 300-400 lb. The bulk
of the fibre is consumed by the United States ; this amounted, in 1876, to 41,500 bales ; 1877, 51,400 ; 1878, 18,645 ; 1879, 65,142. New York is the chief importer. Small quantitie4 are shipped to London, Liverpool, and Hamburg. The exports, in 1879, from Progresso, Yucatan, were expected to reach 70,000 bales, of 600 lb. The market value is regulated by the price of Manilla hemp ; being somewhat weaker, it brings 51.-101. a ton less. London prices fluctuate between 201. and 301. a ton. Its sole commercial application seems to be for the manufacture of cordage ; locally, its use Is extended to mats, hammocks, and coarse sacking. The finest twine is made from it in Merida, Yucatan.
A. vivipara [Fourcroya Cantula] species is common in the N.W. Provinces of India, and it, or a very closely similar variety, is found in America, from Virginia to Florida. It grows often in clusters, and is reproduced by seeds, which are said to vegetate on the branches till the stem dies, when the young plants fall and take root. In India, the leaves are made to yield their fibre by rotting them for 20 days, and then beating them on a plank, and washing well. The fibre is reported strong and useful, and is used for making mats, ropes, and twine, finding a ready local sale.
Aloe ap. A. ferox in Natal, A. roulgaris and A. succotrina in S. Europe, Asia Minor and S. Africa. In the Zambesi country, the natives extract a good fibre, called konge, from the leaves.
Ampelodesmos This plant grows wild on the Algerian coast, over an area of 250 leagues, and is said to yield 84 per cent. of fibre. The plants are erushed, and steeped in limewater for 3-4 days, and in an acid solution for a like period. The fibres arc thus disengaged ; they are then beaten under water. The average length of the fibre is placed at nearly 5 ft.; and its coat, at 4s. 6d. a cwt. It is applicable to the manufacture of paper, and, it is said, to that of coarse fabrics, and cordage.
Ananassa aativa [Bromelia (Fa., Armas ; E. ARCM, Endogen ; perennial, 2-3 ft. This plant abounds in China, Malacca, Singapore, Assam, the Tense scrim Provinces, Java, and the Philippines, and is also found (naturalized) in the Peninsula and N. Provinces of India, and in Ceylon. In the Azores and Bahamas, it is cultivated for its fruit. It succeeds in the open air as far as 30° N. lat., growing without any care, and in almost all soils. In India generally, it is grown solely for the sake of its fruit, the Rungpore district of Bengal being the only place where its fibre is utilized. In the other eastern homes of the plant, the fibre is the chief object of attention.