140 



PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE 



and is reproduced by sticking, branches into the 

 ground. 



Cultivation. Where it can be done, the ground in 

 which abaca is to be planted should be well plowed and 

 cultivated. On ground which has just been cleared, this 

 is impossible, but the ground around each plant must be 



made fine. The plants of the large 

 kinds must, of course, be planted 

 farther apart than those of the small 

 ones. The plants of a variety 

 growing to a moderate size should 

 be at least 2 meters apart on open 

 ground. They should always be in 

 straight rows, so that they can be 

 cultivated easily. 



We have already learned, in the 

 chapter on Plants and Water (see 

 page 42), how cultivation helps 

 abaca to endure drought. It also 

 makes it grow rapidly and mature 

 early. From twenty to thirty 

 months is usually the time between 

 planting suckers and maturity. 

 But well-cultivated abaca, the suckers being of only the 

 usual size, has produced a large crop that matured in six- 

 teen months. Abaca is mature when clusters of flowers 

 appear, and must be cut before the fruit begins to ripen. 



Harvesting. When it is mature, the abaca stalk is cut 

 just above the ground with a sharp bolo, making a cut 



FlG. 99. Removing the outer 

 strips from the leaf stems 



