352 PLANTS AND MAN 



climate and a rich moist soil — conditions which exist everywhere 

 in these islands. Plants are grown from seed or cuttings and the 

 first crop can be gathered in about three years; subsequent crops 

 can be secured at intervals of three to four years. 



The fibers, individually six to twelve inches long, are removed 

 in six to twelve foot strands by stripping the outer layers from the 

 large, sheath-like leaf bases, where the fibers occur as a tough 

 rind beneath the outer cell layers. The strands are then scraped 

 to remove associated tissues, and dried. It is shipped to the 

 United States in large bales, and here manufactured into cables 

 and ropes. Due to its elasticity and strength, which is even greater 



Fig. 235. — Manila help fibers are obtained from the leaf bases of the large 



leaves. 



than that of hemp, manila has replaced most other fibers for 

 use in manufacture of cordage. Hats, heavy paper and binder 

 twine are outlets for the fiber; it is especially suitable for marine 

 cables, since neither salt nor fresh water harm the fiber. 



The SISAL fibers — henequen, sisal, and istle — all come from 

 Mexican plants known as Agaves, which are stemless perennial 

 plants with basal clusters of fleshy, sharp-pointed leaves. They 

 are closely related to the century plants grown in the southern 

 United States as ornamentals. All are drought resistant plants, 

 thriving on dry sterile soils where other crops could not survive. 

 The plant is reproduced by means of sprouts which arise at the 



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