May 2, 1908.] Ayriciiltural Gazette of N.S.W. 373 



of leaves. Here are Air. Preston's estimates, based on figures of jield in Yucatan, with 

 cost of labour in the Bahamas. 



$90.00 



48,000 leaves (36 tons) at .if2.50 per ton 



6 wheels, each two hands, at 48 cents 



3 boys supplying feeders, at 24 cents... 



3 women to remove and hang fibre, at 30 cents 



Engine-driver at ■':^2 



Fuel 



Incidentals 



Total... 



5.76 

 .72 

 .90 



2.00 

 2.00 

 2.00 



$103.38 



This shows a yield of 3,600 lb. of fil)re from 72,000 lb. of leaves, at a cost of .S103.38, 

 making an average of S2.87 as the cost of producing 100 lb. of fibre, the product of 

 1 ton of leaves. 



Mr. T. Albee Smith informs me that 1,000 leaves of henequen weigh in the rainy 

 treason KiO to 200 arrobas (2.5 lb. each) : in the dry season 100 to 160 arrobas per 1,000 

 leaves. One thousand leaves average a yield of 55 lb. of libre. 



The leaves are cut close to the trunk, a sharp knife bemg used for the purpose. In 

 Yucatan the spiTies are removed from the edges of the leaf, together with its thorndike 

 point, after which fifty leaves are tied together to form a bundle. About 1,.500 leaves, 

 making just a cartdoad, are considered a day's work. A correspondent of the Farm 

 I mi til' mutt Neirs—a. Chicago gentleman interested in the Sisal industry — thus describes 

 the method of harvesting in Y^ucatan :— "This is done by the Indians, who are almost 

 nude, with a stroke of the knife or machete, at the rate of, for one hand, 2,000 to 

 2,500 leaves per day. Following tlie Indian who cuts ofi:" the leaves is an Indian woman, 

 who, with a knife, cuts off the spike or thorn-tipped end and the thorny .side of the leaf, 

 ready for the machine. One foreman was understood to say that it costs about 38 cents 

 per 1,000 leaves, to cut, prepare, and get the leaves to the cleaning machines. On all 

 the large haciendas visited were little railways into the fields, upon which, on cars 

 drawn by mules, the henequen was taken to the mill, and the waste was taken away." 



Raspador. 



Preparation of the Fibre. 



The cleaning of the fibre of Sisal hemp in an economical manner after the leaves have 

 been grown is probably one the chief considerations in the establishment of this industry. 

 Until very recently the only machine in use in Y'ucatan was a clumsy affair, stated to 

 be a native invention, called a raspador. Rude as this piece of mechanism is, it is said 

 that a native will clean twenty leaves a minute with it, though with quite a pei'centage 

 of waste of fibre. 



