174 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



son for the failure of Manila hemp in various other tropical 

 countries to which it has been introduced is not apparent. A 

 number of suckers supposed to be those of Manila hemp were 

 imported by the Hawaii Experiment Station, but when these 

 plants came to maturity they proved to be only a wild species 

 of banana with small fruits full of seed and with a poor fiber 

 weaker even than the fiber of the Chinese banana. 



Manila hemp is propagated chiefly by suckers in the same 

 manner as bananas and rarely by seed. The planting distance 

 varies from 6 to 10 feet apart both ways. The trunk is cut 

 down at the age of 3 or 4 years just as the plant is about to 

 flower. It has been found that the fiber is practically ruined 

 by allowing the plant to fruit. Such cultivation and weeding 

 as the crop may receive during its growth are largely done by 

 hand. For the purpose of decortication the trunk is cut into 

 longitudinal strips and the strips are then pulled across the edge 

 of a knife either notched like a saw or with smooth edge. The 

 strip of the trunk is pressed against the knife edge by means of 

 a lever operated by a second workman. A pair of laborers 

 working in this manner will take out about 30 to 35 pounds of 

 fiber per day. When first removed the fiber contains about 55 

 per cent, of moisture. After being thoroughly dried the fiber 

 is packed in bales of about 125 pounds. 



The reported yields of Manila hemp fiber range from 500 to 

 6,000 pounds per acre. The average yield is perhaps 750 

 pounds. The experience in the Philippines has shown that a 

 plantation can be operated profitably for about 15 years before 

 replanting becomes necessary. Manila hemp possesses a long 

 fiber, often 6 feet in length. The lighter the color and the 

 greater the luster of the fiber the higher the value. Abaca 

 belongs with hard fibers and is used chiefly for cordage, par- 

 ticularly marine cables. It is extremely light and a given 

 weight produces a greater length of cable than can be obtained 

 from the same weight of most other fibers. Abaca also strongly 

 resists the action of water, especially salt water. The fiber 



