4* ' 



It may be taken that 1,000 leaves at maturity give from 40 to 60 

 lbs. of fibre, and on the cutting of these the life of the plant depends 

 for, if they are not cut, the plant will pole before time, and once 

 poled the hemp becomes dry, if not entirely useless. The time for 

 cutting the leaves is when they are at right angles to the stem. 

 Weeding is necessary every year, about a month before the rainy 

 season begins, so that the plants may have all the advantage of the 

 rain, and at the same time new shoots are planted. Shoots are cut 

 from the plants at from two to three years of age. The purchaser, 

 if wishing these for use out of the State, would have to pay about 

 80 dollars per 1,000 in addition to the cost of cutting and other 

 charges, as well as a heavy export duty. And purchasers have 

 been known to wonder why they would not grow, not being aware 

 that the grower has been known to boil the shouts to prevent com 

 petition in other lands. The leaves are, when read)" for cutting, 

 about 5 feet long. After they are cut the thorns on both edges and 

 the hard point or needle are removed, the leaf then being passe'd 

 through a cleaning machine and the fibre when extracted is dried 

 and bleached in the sun. It is then ready for export, and put up in 

 bales of about 160 lbs. In 1884 the State of Yucatan exported 

 233,311 bales, in 1894, 373> 8 33 bales > and in T 9°3. 590>43° Dal ^ s - 



The principal purpose for which the hemp is used is the manu- 

 facture of rope and binder twine. It is generally mixed with some 

 manila. which is longer and somewhat better. Some of the hemp 

 is shipped to Europe, but the great bulk of it is sold in the United 

 States. The machinery employed for preparing hemp or sisal grass 

 for the market, comes almost entirely from the United States. The 

 growers have all become enormously wealthy, many of them being 

 millionaires. Roughly speaking, what costs one dollar to produce 

 sells for four dollars. 



The exports during the last five years were : — 



Year. 



Quantity. 





liales. 



1899 M - ... 



445)97® 



1900 



490,62b 



1901 ... *j*K >Jg 





1902 



$3&2 4 6 



1903 ... ; v ; 



590,430 



