NEW ZEALAND HEMP 37 



or hill variety, has leaves of comparatively small size, which 

 seldom exceed 5 ft. in length, and which produce the best 

 quality of fibre. Originally the plant grew quite wild, but 

 since the fibre became an article of commerce it has been 

 regularly cultivated in some places. 



As a general rule the plant grows best on swampy ground, 

 where it is found in abundance, as well as on the sea coast, 

 but some kinds, notably that known as the yellow hill plant, 

 affect localities that are not swampy or damp. 



In forming a plantation, if the land be swampy trenches 

 should be dug at convenient distances to prevent excess of 

 water. The suckers are obtained from the buds or side- 

 shoots of growing plants. When such are unobtainable, seed- 

 lings may be obtained by planting seeds in a special seed bed. 

 The suckers are planted in lines about 6 ft. apart, the plants 

 being about the same distance apart in the row, an acre thus 

 holding about 1,000 plants. 



The leaves of the New Zealand hemp plant are not fit for 

 cutting until the plant is five or six years old. The best and 

 finest fibre has a silky lustre, and is procured from the fresh 

 green leaves. The fibre resembles Manilla somewhat, but is of 

 inferior quality and strength. The average length of the fibre 

 is about 10 ft. 



When the long flat leaves are cut down they are submitted 

 to the action of a stripper, similar to the flax scutcher's 

 handles, which detach much of the bark. The partially 

 cleaned fibre is then put into a trough through which water 

 circulates, and is washed and scraped with a flat piece of 

 wood. The fibre is then " grassed " and partially bleached 

 by the action of the sun and air, after which it undergoes a 

 further scutching process, which softens, cleans and renders it 

 a saleable article. 



The yield of cleaned fibre is about 12 per cent, of the 

 weight of the green leaves. 



This fibre first attracted the attention of the colonists during 



