PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 191 



purpose of extracting the fibre economically, but none has 

 come into general use. The greater part of the hemp is 

 prepared on the hill -sides on very rough ground where it 

 is actually growing ; for it has been found most profitable 

 to extract the fibre in the plantations, and so avoid the 

 cost of carriage of the heavy trunks. One of the principal 

 requirements of a decorticating machine, therefore, is 

 lightness and portability, combined with greater efficiency, 

 for the waste caused by the present crude method is 

 estimated at from 20 to 30 per cent. 



The exports of Manila hemp have increased very rapidly : 



Tons Tons 



]870 . . 31,426 1900 . . 89,438 



1880 . . 50,482 1910 . . 160,595 



J890 . . 67,864 1911 . . 146,208 



In 1910 the value of the export was 3,432,358, and in 

 1911 3,025,036. 



This is the largest export, being nearly twice as great as 

 the value of copra and more than twice that of sugar, 

 which come next in value. 



The production has been gradually increasing up to the 

 year 1910. The yield for that year was abnormal, and 

 was bound to fall off. The area under cultivation 

 amounted to 1,173,586 acres, and the average yield per 

 acre was 316 Ibs. A yield of 880 to 1000 Ibs. per acre is 

 considered good, but sometimes as much as 5500 Ibs. or 

 more has been obtained. A large number of fields, situated 

 in different districts, were practically exhausted, and had 

 to be replanted with other crops. 



