26 CORDAGE FIBRES 



The land on which the plant grows best is a calcareous 

 rocky soil, on which almost nothing else will grow. 



It takes about five to six years for the plants to grow to 

 the proper maturity to begin cutting leaves. When the plant 

 is growing, all its leaves point upwards. As the plants mature, 

 the leaves begin to open ; as they open, they begin to fall 

 toward a horizontal position. As soon as the leaf becomes 

 horizontal, it is perfectly mature, and must be promptly cut, in 

 order to secure from it the most fibre in the best condition. 

 From four to six leaves become horizontal at the same time on 



FIG. 3. Irene No. 21 Machine. 



each plant. The small leaves, which first drop from the 

 plants, are never cut ; they are allowed to remain on the trunk 

 of the plant and rot there. The leaves that are first cut from 

 the mature plant are always from 4 to 5 ft. long. 



When plants mature, say in five to six years, and the first 

 four to six leaves become horizontal and are cut, it takes from 

 two to four months before the next row of four to six leaves 

 drop to the point of cutting. Each plant always has from 

 twenty-five to twenty-seven leaves. When four to six are cut, 

 the same number have opened in the centre of the plant, 



