BINDER-TWINE FIBER IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 13 



the Philippines, from 8,000 to 10,000 leaves are required to produce 

 1 picul (137.5 pounds) of fiber. Two million leaves of this charac- 

 ter would prociuce 15 tons of fiber, or with a daily supply of 2,000,000 

 leaves an annual output of 4,500 tons of fiber. The machine situa- 

 tion in the Philippine Islands may be summarized by the statement 

 that a sufficient number of modern fiber-cleaning machines to clean 

 from one-third to one-half of the present total output of maguey and 

 sisal fiber have already been installed or have been ordered by the 

 planters. It is not unreasonable to assume that this situation is 

 largely the direct result of the cooperative work organized and car- 

 ried on by the Government. 



An important problem in connection with the machine work has 

 been that of determining the type of machine best adapted to existing 

 Philippine conditions. 



With respect to size and cleaning capacity, three standard types 

 of fiber-cleaning machines are now manufactured in the United 

 States. These types are represented by the small machine, which 

 cleans 3,000 leaves per hour ; the medium-sized machine, which cleans 

 5,000 leaves per hour; and the large machine, which cleans 15,000 

 leaves per hour. The manufacturers ordinarily recommend the pur- 

 chase of the larger machines, as it is claimed that they are more 

 easily, satisfactorily, and economically operated. 



The Philippine planters, before the Government demonstrations 

 with machines were made, were urgent in their demand for small 

 machines. The arguments presented in favor of the small machines 

 were that practically all the maguey plantations were too small to 

 furnish the number of leaves required for the operation of a large 

 machine and that but few of the planters had sufficient capital to 

 purchase such a machine. 



When the three Government machines were obtained it was con- 

 sidered advisable to purchase one machine of the smallest size and 

 two of medium size. It was desired to ascertain whether the small 

 machines could be profitably operated under Philippine conditions, 

 and it was believed that the largest machines would be found too 

 large to meet the requirements of the Philippine planters. These 

 three machines have been operated intermittently for a period of 

 two years with the following results : 



With the small maguey leaves, which constitute practically the entire leaf 

 supply now available in the more important fiber-producing Provinces, the 

 capacity of the small machine is not sufficient to make its operation profitable. 

 With sisal or with large maguey leaves it appears that this size can be operated 

 with a small margin of profit. 



The factor of small leaves and consequent lessened cleaning capacity is not 

 as serious a matter with the medium-sized machine as it with the small one. 

 With good business management and an adequate supply of leaves it should be 

 possible to Operate this machine profitably under existing Philippine conditions. 



