104 



now known to blossom when it gets to be between 8 to 12 

 years old. The flower stalks are 4 m. or more in height, 

 arborescent in form, and have stout branches which usually 

 bear green flowers. 



PREPARATION. 



In the Philippines, the fibers are usually retted — ^that is, 

 the leaves are cut off and put in salt water until the soft 

 tissues surrounding the fibers have decayed. The fibers 

 are then washed and dried in the sun. A more laborious 

 way, resulting, however, in the production of a finer grade 

 of fiber, consists in scraping the leaves and then washing 

 and drying them in the usual way. 



USES. 



In the United States maguey is used extensively for 

 binder twine. The fiber is also used for cordage, fish nets, 

 hammocks, and similar purposes. In several provinces in 

 the Philippines the fiber is woven in a limited quantity into 

 cloth. Several years ago the export of maguey was of con- 

 siderable importance in the Ilocano territory, which, because 

 of its soil and long dry season, is well adapted to the grow- 

 ing of this fiber. The planting of maguey at present fluc- 

 tuates, depending on the demand and the price paid for the 

 fiber. 



Maguey fibers are braided and employed for soles of 

 "alparagatas." These are slippers having usually heavy 

 maguey soles and canvas or cloth uppers and are used by 

 Filipinos and others in place of shoes, especially when 

 tramping over hills. The slippers are at present imported 

 into the Philippines from China and Japan, but there is 

 no valid reason why they should not be made more exten- 

 sively in the Islands. 



The schools of Ilocos Norte are putting out a very service- 

 able and neat house slipper having a macrame toe of maguey 

 fiber, under sole of braided maguey, and upper sole of rice 

 straw. 



The fiber twisted or as cord can be used for making neat 

 and attractive coiled baskets. 



