SISAL HEMP 173 



but the land must be cleared of trees and scrub, 

 and stumps must be uprooted in order to render the 

 surface even. On the other hand, it is stated that in 

 German East Africa the best results are obtained on 

 land' which has been thoroughly cleaned and well 

 hoed. In any case, it is essential that the under- 

 growth should be removed, as if the Sisal plants are 

 shaded the fibre becomes weak and inferior. The 

 land subsequently requires to be lightly hoed four or 

 five times a year in order to keep it free from weeds. 



Planting. The Sisal plant comparatively rarely 

 sets seed, and its propagation is therefore effected by 

 means either of bulbils, which are produced in the 

 manner already described (p. 166), or of suckers which 

 arise from the rhizome. The bulbils are usually 

 grown in nursery beds until about 812 inches high, 

 and are then planted out. Suckers can be planted 

 immediately after their removal from the parent 

 plant. Planting is generally carried out during the 

 rainy season, all fibrous roots and lower leaves having 

 been first removed to facilitate new growth. The 

 plants should be set in rows about 8 feet apart. The 

 distance between consecutive plants in the row 

 varies a good deal in practice, but probably 6 feet is 

 the most satisfactory, this arrangement admitting 

 about 900 plants per acre. 



Harvesting and Yield. The period whicfr must elapse 

 before harvesting can be begun varies in different 

 countries, but, in general, after about from three to 

 five years healthy plants will yield leaves ready for 

 cutting. The cutting is effected by means of a 

 special form of blade or sickle with a curved end. 

 Each leaf is cut off close to the trunk, care being 

 taken not to injure the younger leaves on the plant. 

 The number of leaves which can be cut per annum 

 varies greatly. It is estimated that in Mexico, each 

 plant yields about twenty-five leaves a year, whilst in 

 East Africa double that number are obtained. The 

 average weight of the leaves in the latter country is 

 about 2 lb., and the yield of dry fibre is approximately 

 3 per cent. Hence the yield of fibre per acre con- 

 taining 900 mature plants should amount to about 



