A report on the leaf fibers of the United States detailing results of recent investigations relating to Florida sisal hemp, the false sisal hemp plant of Florida, and other fiber-producing agaves; bowstring hemp, pineapple fiber, New Zealand flax, and bear-grass . , wherethere was an old clearing, wefind thousands more. Withinone-half mile north and south ofour house are two large groups,mainly of two varieties. Thereare thousands in those is a considerable group ofthe true sisal hemp growing onold St. Caperan, opposite Indian River Inlet. From the best sources of information acce
A report on the leaf fibers of the United States detailing results of recent investigations relating to Florida sisal hemp, the false sisal hemp plant of Florida, and other fiber-producing agaves; bowstring hemp, pineapple fiber, New Zealand flax, and bear-grass . , wherethere was an old clearing, wefind thousands more. Withinone-half mile north and south ofour house are two large groups,mainly of two varieties. Thereare thousands in those is a considerable group ofthe true sisal hemp growing onold St. Caperan, opposite Indian River Inlet. From the best sources of information accessible they were plantedduring the Seminole war, about 1840. They have become naturalized, and from herelarge quantities have been obtained for ornamental and decorative purposes. Three miles south of us at the old Hevman Grove, settled in 1841, is a number ofthem also. Counting the pole plants as well as suckers, ten to twenty thousand ormore can be found here. (See Fig. 1.) They are invariably found in our best hum-mocks on or near the river bank, probably because the clearings were made us the Agave rigida sisalana sends up its pole at seven years on our best others are a little slower. So far as the plant is concerned the poor land. Fig. 1.—Pole plants or slips (Agave sisalana). 16 theory has no foundation in this locality. Our strongest and finest plants are on ourbest land. So far as quality and quantity of fiber is concerned, that is a different question,and I await further light. You will doubtless determine that. I am thoroughlysatisfied that plants of any of these varieties will succeed well here. The importantquestions relate to the machinery for extracting the fiber, and whether the industrycan be made to pay without planting large areas. The specimens submitted represented four forms of Agaves, thesmooth and spined leaved varieties of sisal hemp, the false sisal, and alarge-leaved bluish-green Agave somewhat resembling Americana,which was als
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherwashingtongovtprin
