DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



49 



where palmetto scrub occurs, the soil must be cleared of tbese roots, there being 

 about 20 cords of roots to the acre. Dr. Washburn, of Fort Myers, estimates the 

 expense of clearing the land in this manner at $25 (see statements upon this subject, 

 in Fib. Inv. Kept. No. 3, U. S. Dept. Ag.). As sisal plants will not thrive when 

 even slightly shaded, all other growth should be cleared away. 



Plantations are established by setting either suckers or "pole plants." Suckers are 

 the shoots which spring from the roots of old plants. Pole plants form on the blos- 

 som stalk of old plants that have flowered. (See fig. 13.) When the old plant flowers, 

 it sends up a stalk, or "pole," 

 as it is called, to the height 

 of 15 or sometimes 20 feet. 

 After the tulip-shaped blos- 

 soms which appear have 

 begun to wither, there starts 

 forth from the point of con- 

 tact with the flower stalk a 

 bud, which develops into a 

 tiny plant, which, when 

 grown to the length of sev- 

 eral inches, becomes de- 

 tached and falls to the 

 ground. Such pole plants 

 as come in contact with the 

 soil take root, and in a very 

 short time are large enough 

 to transplant. In the Ba- 

 hamas these flower-stalk 

 plants are largely utilized in 

 establishing sisal fields, and 

 with as good results as 

 where the suckers alone are 

 used. Precisely the same 

 course must be pursued in 

 Florida. Such plants should 

 first be set out in the nurs- 

 ery. It should be remem- 

 bered that the smaller the 

 plants used in establishing 

 a plantation the longer the 

 time that must elapse be- 

 fore leaves are sufficiently 

 mature to cut for fiber. 



In setting out plants in 

 Florida, we must be guided 

 by the experience of other 

 countries. In the Bahamas 

 650 plants are set to the acre 

 in rows 11 feet by 6 feet Fig. 12.— Blossoms of false sisal liemp plant. 



distant from each other. "This will give room for the laborers to work between 

 the rows without being wounded by the terrible spurs. Besides, closer planting 

 would result in the piercing of innumerable leaves every time the wind blew, and 

 the consequent destruction of fiber. Stabs and bruises mean discoloration." (Edgar 

 Bacon.) Evidences of this are seen, in every "wild" sisal patch growing on the 

 Florida keys. 



The number of plants usuallv set out in an acre in Yucatan is 650. Rows 11 to 12 

 12247— No. 9- — 4 ' 



