SISAL HEMP 175 



as it does in other countries, but only about half as 

 many years. Moreover, the number of leaves pro- 

 duced per plant (on the average about 200) is roughly 

 the same in each case, and hence the comparatively 

 brief duration of life is rather an advantage than 

 otherwise as the total crop of the plant is produced 

 in a relatively shorter time. 



Since the plants in a Sisal plantation do not all pole 

 at the same time, the work can be carried on con- 

 tinuously by the intercalary method sometimes 

 adopted in German East Africa. As the plant lives 

 for only about six years, cutting can only be carried 

 on for two or three years before it dies. New plants 

 are therefore continually being inserted between the 

 old ones, so that when one plant dies another is ready 

 for cutting, and the work of the plantation can proceed 

 without interruption. Some planters, however, do 

 not approve of this method, but prefer to let all the 

 plants in a plantation pole and die and then allow 

 the land to lie fallow for a year or more before re- 

 planting. 



EXTRACTION AND PREPARATION OF THE FIBRE 



The fibre is extracted from the leaves by a process 

 of crushing and scraping or " scutching. " The leaves 

 should be treated as soon as possible after they have 

 been cut, as otherwise the juices become dry and 

 gummy, thus rendering extraction more difficult. 

 They should be graded according to length before 

 being scutched, and the fibre of the different lengths 

 should be kept separate. The strands of fibre must 

 be kept as parallel as possible, and not be allowed 

 to become tangled. It must be borne in mind that 

 good white fibre of uniform length and carefully 

 cleaned and baled commands a much higher price than 

 mixed fibre, ill-cleaned and badly baled. 



Modern machinery for Sisal hemp extraction is 

 based on the principle of the old " raspador " which 

 was the earliest form of machine employed in Mexico. 

 This machine consists of a wheel, like a four-foot 

 pulley, with a 6 inch face, and with pieces of brass 



