18 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



Hauling Hemp. 



apparent. This year the demand for twine is certain to be greater than ever. Last year's wheat 

 crop was the largest the country has ever produced; this year's is expected to be still larger. 

 900,000,000 bushels is the estimate if normal conditions prevail from now to harvest. It is 

 probal)le that the production of the other grains, especially of oats, will also be increased and the 

 other crops will be at least the equal of normal yeai's, and with the appreciable shortage in the 

 Mexican crop of sisal fiber and the resulting increase of price, an increased acreage is being 

 looked forward to in Cul^a for a share in this enormous trade. 



A commission governing the regulation of henequen as grown in Yucatan, Mexico, is now in 

 the United States attempting to develop and increase the use of henequen fiber among American 

 manufacturers. Because of the difficulties connected with the spinning and weaving of sisal 

 fiber the use of sisal fiber in the United States has been almost entirely confined to the produc- 

 tion of binder twine. It is believed now possible to exteiM the use of sisal fiber in a number of 

 different ways and to substitute it in the manufacture of a number of products for which other 

 vegetable fibers are now used. 



Substitution for jute — -other possible uses . 



The most important type of manufacture in which it is desired to introduce sisal fiber is in 

 the manufactm'e of gunny baggmg and burlap bags which at present are manufactured from 

 jute. Sisal fiber is acknowledged to be much stronger, more resistant and less likely to absorb 

 moisture and bad odors. For sacks for coffee, wheat, barley, oats and other like commodities 

 sisal fiber would fiu-nish a far lietter bag for shipping purposes. Experiments have been made 

 in the spinning of sisal fibers and the results have been extremely satisfactory. 



Other ways in which henequen can be utilized are in the production of ])a]:)er from the trunk 

 of the henequen plant and from the weaker and dryer leaves; and in utilizing the filler in the 

 manufacture of carpets and mattings. 



Generally speaking, henequen fiber would be much cheaper for use in such manufacturing 

 purposes than the materials now used. The fiber is grown within a few hours shipping distance 

 from New York, while most of the jute is brought from Calcutta. It would be more economical 

 to utilize fiber for these various manufactures if it should be found feasible to secure machinery 

 suitable for handling it and it is thought to be feasible. 



