264 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



in the row. At all events, the quantity of soil that would he saved in this way 

 would justify the experiment on a small scale. In this case the roots should he 

 planted across the lines in rows. Six feet is generally recommended to be between 

 rows and between plants, because closer planting might impoverish the soil; but it 

 should be kept in view that llax needs shelter, and the proximity of the plants to 

 each other would atford this, and assist in drawing up the leaves and making liner 

 liber. If suitable land is chosen, it is thought that impoverishment of soil will not 

 result from the close planting. 



With the view of still further economizing space, it has been suggested that about 

 10 or 12 rows should be planted, then a break of 10 or 12 feat should be left for drays 

 to pass along and collect the leaves when cut. Then other 10 or 12 rows should be 

 planted, then another break, and so ou. The extent of the ground to be planted must, 

 however, regulate this. About one thousand roots, planted 6 feet apart each way, 

 will cover an acre of land; but if the land is planted 4 by 3 feet, as recommended 

 above, about one-third more will be required for an acre. In one plant of Phormium 

 there will be from 20 to 50 roots for transplanting. Opinions differ also as to the 

 number of roots that should be planted together; one, two, and three are variously 

 recommended. If two or three are planted together, a large space of ground would 

 he required to be left around. Care should be taken to avoid planting the roots from 

 which a seed stem has been thrown out, or planting the center portion of an old 

 plant, which is not so productive as young shoots, having a tendency to run to 

 flower, when it requires more nourishment than all the leaves do. The flower stalk 

 should therefore be cut down as early as possible; and when this is done the cut 

 part should be rubbed over with a little earth to prevent " bleeding," or, better still, 

 twisted off. But if the close planting be adopted, only one root should be planted 

 at one place. (Dr. Hector.) 



Preparation of the Fiber. — The maturity of the leaf is ascertained by its texture 

 and firmness, or by its being split at the point, or by the recurving of the blades from 

 the central midribs. The leaf of the best Phormium should be over 5 feet iu length, 

 excluding the butt. The top of the leaf should feel soft to the touch, and droop a 

 little ; this occurs in winter. 



The habit of the plant is to form large tufts, its sword-shaped leaves growing in 

 opposite rows and clasping each other at the "base. 



One variety forms leaves 5 and 6 feet long, while another is not more than half the 

 length. Mr. Salesbury, of the botanic garden, Chelsea, found that plants three 

 years old will produce on an average 36 leaves, besides a number of offsets. Six 

 leaves have produced 1 ounce of dry, available fiber after having been scutched and 

 cleaned, at which rate an acre of land cropped with these plants, growing 3 feet 

 apart, would yield more than 600 pounds of dressed fiber. The leaves being cut in 

 the autumn, others spring up anew the following summer. It is said that the plant 

 may be shorn of its leaves in the morning and before the sun has set they will be 

 ready for weaving into cloth. 



The principal operation is scraping and then separating the fibers with the thumb 

 nail, after which combs are employed for a more minute separation. The fibers are 

 subsequently dried in the sun, and are perfectly white — some short aud strong, 

 others fine and silky. According to the reports published by the New Zealand com- 

 missioner at the exhibition of 1876, the Maoris (or natives) only use a portion of 

 the fiber upon one side of the leaf, the leaves being selected with great care. They 

 scrape the leaf with a mussel shell, or piece of hoop iron, on the thigh, after which 

 it is soaked in water and then dried. Their finest samples are obtained from partic- 

 ular varieties of the plant, only the youngest and best leaves being used, and careful 

 attention being paid to the manipulation. "This native-dressed liber, however, 

 constitutes but a small portion of the fiber actually prepared on the island, as large 

 ^manufactories have been erected, where the fiber is stripped by machinery. " Two 

 modes of dressing the fiber are practiced, known as the "cold" and the "warm" 

 water dressing. The leaves of the llax are fed to a machine called a stripper at the 



