308 



MINOR FIBRE CROPS 



The yield may be from six to 

 twelve hundred pounds of fibre 

 per acre (Fig. 200), and of seed 

 from fifteen to twenty-five 

 bushels per acre. In the old 

 world the seed is extensively 

 grown, and oil from it is extrac- 

 ted by pressure. It contains 

 thirty to thirty-five per cent of 

 oil, which is useful in cooking, 

 making salads, and the poor 

 grades are used for burning and 

 soap making. The leaves and 

 stems of hemp also produce a 

 resinous product used for mak- 

 ing intoxicants. The fibre 

 (Fig. 201) is used for rope, cord- 

 age, twine, carpet making and 

 other purposes. 



ABACA OR MANILA FIBRE 



This is one of the chief 

 sources of fibre for the best 

 qualities of rope (Fig. 202). It 

 gets its name from the city of 

 Manila from which it is shipped 

 in large quantities. This has 

 been for years one of the chief ex- 

 ports of the Philippine Islands. 

 The plant is closely related to 

 and resembles the common 

 banana plant. Its luxuriant 

 growth is produced by an 

 abundant rainfall, and moist 

 climate, but where the soil is 

 well-drained. 



The plants are chiefly prop- 

 agated by cuttings made from 

 side shoots, but they may also 



FIG. 201. Hemp fibre. After rettmg *~ 



and breaking out the woody hurds it is tied in be propagated by SeeQS. AS the 

 "hands" or "heads" before baling for mar- . . , . . , - 



ket. (u. s. D. A.) crop is perennial, it is good for 



