34 



CORDAGE FIBRES 



In India aloe fibre is produced from the plant A. vivipara. 

 The leaves are cut from the stem and split lengthwise into 

 strips about in. wide. The strips are generally dried in 

 the sun for about four days, steeped in running water for 

 a period of from seven to ten days, and then beaten with 

 a wooden mallet or against a stone. 



Yucatan has a valuable fibre trade in agave fibre, its chief 

 article of commerce being Sisal fibre, produced from the plant 

 A. rigida, which grows abundantly in the country, taking its 

 name from the port of Sisal, from whence it was originally 

 exported. A chapter has already been devoted to Sisal, 

 which stands highest among the aloes as regards quality and 

 value. 



The formation of an aloe plantation is not attended with 

 much difficulty. Any dry, poor land will suit it, but rocky, 

 gravelly soil is considered the best for producing the finest 

 fibre. 



In moist and rich lands the plant grows so vigorously that the 

 fibre becomes poor in quality and smaller in quantity in pro- 

 portion to the weight of the leaves. It is also noteworthy that a 

 shade of any kind is always prejudicial to the plant in all stages 

 of its growth. It is always advisable to select vigorous speci- 

 mens for the purpose of planting, and the young plants which 

 grow around the stem are preferable for the purpose to those 

 which are produced in the flower-stalk. The rainy season 

 should be taken advantage of for planting purposes, not that 

 a plantation would fail by planting in dry weather, but the 

 plants would commence their growth well and begin to yield 

 earlier. The number of plants which should be put down per 

 acre differs greatly according to the practice of planters. 

 While the Mauritius planters consider 1,200 plants per acre 

 a fair number, in Yucatan they put down only 600. In three 

 to four years the plants begin to yield. The leaves are then 

 cut close to the stem, and are made into bundles and sent to 

 the mill for the extraction of the fibre. 



