MANILA, SISAL, JUTE 459 



The best quality of fiber is produced when hemp is retted 

 under water, as is the custom in some of the European 

 countries. Dew-retted hemp is dark in color and the fiber 

 produced from it is rather coarse. Most of the hemp grown 

 in the United States is used for the manufacture of ropes and 

 of warp for carpets. 



OTHER FIBER PLANTS 



Several other fibers enter into the world's commercial 

 use; but, as they are not raised in the United States, mere 

 mention is made of them. 



628. Manila fiber is derived from a plant that grows 

 luxuriantly in the Philippine Islands. Its length of fiber 

 makes it especially useful for rope, for which purpose it is 

 principally used. 



629. Sisal, so-called from a city of that name in Yucatan, 

 is the whitish fiber of henequin, a plant of the Agave family, 

 and cultivated in Central America and the West Indies. It 

 is used for mats and twine, and is sometimes mixed with 

 manila for rope. 



630. Jute is the fiber of the inner bark of a plant grown 

 in India. It is used in the making of twine, bags, burlap, 

 carpet, and even wrapping paper. 



LABORATORY AND FIELD EXERCISES 



1. Make a map of the United States and place a dot in each state 

 for each thousand acres of cotton produced. 



2. Make an effort to secure samples of cotton plants representing 

 the different types of cotton. Compare the fiber as to length and 

 firmness. 



3. Wherever possible visit cotton plantations and study methods 

 followed as to cultivation, fertilization and boll weevil control and com- 

 pare results. 



' 4. If statistics are available, make a careful comparison of the 

 relative production of cotton and of wool in the United States both 

 as to quantity and value. 



