SISAL FIBRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 537, 18 June 1909, Page 10

SISAL FIBRE.

WILL IT KILL. OUR HEMP? ;

NOTES ON ITS GROWTH. Mr. Alfred Scifert's proposed trip to Manila and sisal countries, on behalf of his big Manawatu firm, to gain information which may decide "whether it is worth while continuing in the Has industry/' gives special interest'to the industries which produco the rival fibres. .

rhe revival of t'ho Manila output, began with the end of the Spanisli-American .war and the substitution of. American, for Spanish rule., For from that stage the development of the industry- was attended with a confidence which justified .the introduction-of i machinory. It was contended at first that .the machine-made manila would-be inferior to t'ho fibre hitherto dressed by native 'hands, but defects in this direction were bound to bo scarcely more than temporary. Tho seriousnoss of ll.'inila competition arises from the fact'that MaJiila fibre can bo used for most purposes for \yhich our hemp is suited,. .Sisal hemp,is being produced in fast-in-creasing quantities in Slexico' and Yuca-taaij and it is also a promising industry in Queensland. Nearly two years ago the sisal danger was so far realised by New Zealand flaxmillers that sample plants of sisal were obtained from Queensland and planted at Tokomaru. It was-then suggested that the sisal industry should bo established on a large scale in New Zealand if it proved suited to the climate. Tho plants imported consisted of 2000 specially-selected; well-rooted suckers of tho two principal commercial varieties— namely, the sisal of Yucatan (Agava Rigida var. elongate) and tho sisal of tie Bahamas and Florida (Agava Rigida, var. sisalana). The latter, also known as helequen, was considered the most important. Whether the trials with these plants at Tokomaru were encouraging has not been announced. Sisal is a plant of the aloo species,'and a native of Mexico and Central America. -It is accustomed, ! therefore, to a warmer ' climate than that . of New Zealand. The prequality to New Zealand hemp. The blade of the pla.nt is thicker than the leaf of Now Zealand flax, but the pared-fibre is very similar in texture and milling process is v;ery similar. About two years ago, Messrs. L. Seifort, and W. G. Smith, two of Now Zealand's big flaxmillers, visited- the sisal fields of Queensland, for tho purpose of seeing tho results of the experiments being conducted on tho'growing of tho plant. On their return, thoy made a report of their impressions. They stated that only very small areas wero under cultivation there, and an adequato trial had therefore, not been possible. • They considered that at least' from 500 to 1000 acres of. tho plant needed to bo grown before any tests could be considered conclusive. That would .involve tho investment of considerable capital, and, 011 tho .whole, they believed. there was 110 immediato likelihood of sisal fibre from Queensland compoting against Now Zealand hemp. . ... Among tho difficulties associated with sisal growing, they montioncd that the plant lives for only about sevon years, so that tho plantations' havo to be periodically ronowed. This resulted in much loss of crop for the young plants did not reach cutting a"e till they woro four years old. Cultivation is ,v necessary part of sisal growing,- and this introduces the labour trouble. Just as the sugar cane industry is being hampoied in Queensland, for want of labour, co is

thoro danger of tho sisal industry there being strangled in its infancy by tho saiiio cause, 'i'lio plants cost about' £3 per thousand, and a thousand occupy an acre. The annual cost of cultivation is estimated at •about £10 per acre. Oil this account, the selling valuo of the fibro would need to bo considerably higher than that of New Zealand hemp, in order to pay tho same interest on outlay. The Yucatan article (said Mossrs. Seifert and Smith) at that time was jetchmg slightly more than New Zealand ucmp. Tlio fibro, was very similar, in . strand and colour, to tho best New Zealand hemp, and its quality would enable it to hold a i ll the markets. Tlio lucatan Government appears to have regarded tho sisal industry with an even moro jealous eye than New Zealandcrs cast upon their hemp industry in the palmier clays, for the exportation of 'plants was discouraged in every way. Now, however, tliat the plant has once reached Queensland, it is not longer possible to restrict its Bpreadj if its industrial valuo in. these parts were ever pro Ted. <