FIliER PLANTS 139 



taken to get suckers or seeds from the best available 

 abaca. 



Varieties. In every community there are several 

 varieties in cultivation. The names of these varieties 

 are mostly local. The varieties vary greatly in size, pro- 

 ductiveness, ease of stripping, and in color, fineness, and 

 strength of fiber. 



Shade Trees. Where shade trees must be used, those 

 should be selected which will either produce something 

 of value or which 

 will improve the soil. 

 Ilangilang, pili, and 

 the various fruit trees 

 are useful for their 

 products. The leg- 

 umes are the best to 

 improve the soil. 



The trees milSt not Fl( "" 98 - AbacA fruit showing seeds 



only furnish shade, but they must also be strong enough 

 not to break in the wind. Narra and ipil are legu- 

 minous trees which produce valuable wood and are 

 not easily broken by wind. Other strong legumes 

 used in this way are madrecacao and tamarind. The 

 dapclap has the best effect on the soil, because its 

 wood decays quickly. Both the madrecacao and the 

 common spiny dapdap lose their leaves in the driest sea- 

 son, when the abaca most needs shade. There is a 

 spineless form of dapdap which retains its leaves at all 

 times, but it is less strong. It usually makes no seed, 



