J.O CORDAGE FIBRES 



been loosened and opened up. The fibre is then to be com- 

 pletely cleaned by washing in warm soap and water and 

 subsequently hackled. 



The present value of the fibre as now imported is about 

 ^"30 per ton for " fair Wellington," which quality is usually 

 regarded as a base. 



Mills are now springing up all over the country, but the 

 Auckland district still leads, although just around Foxton 

 in the south there are about thirty-six mills at work. During 

 the last ten years the exports of fibre have risen from 2,000 

 tons to 280,000 tons. 



A crop can be taken every three years from each plant 

 about 8 tons of green leaves producing i ton of fibre. 



