4 



Preparing the Fields. — The size of the cultivations on the estates range from 250 to 3,500 acres 

 They are laid out in fields, or sections, of 50 to 200 acres, and contain from 600 to 900 plants to the 

 acre. 



When preparing the fiilds the land is cut during the dry season; is then allowed to spring up, 

 after whitih it is " sprig weeded," and burnt after the first fall of rain The stump3 are cut close to 

 the ground, so as to be out of the way of the leaves of the plants, and to facilitate the running of the 

 line for planting, and getting the rows straight. 



Planting. — The plants are " set out" on the different estates at various distances, being 6 ft. x 11 ft., 



5 ft. x 11 ft., 4 ft. x 11 ft., 6 ft. x 10 ft., 5 ft x 10 ft., 4 ft. x 10 ft., 6 ft. x 9 ft., 5 f t. x 9 ft., 4 ft. x 9 ft., 



6 ft. x 8 ft. 



The rows are kept perfectly straight, for if they be otherwise, there would be the greatest difficulty 

 in getting through the fields. 



When planting the labourers have a small line with the distances at which the plants are to be 

 "set out" knotted on it, a'.d a pole cut to the length that the rows are to be apart. A man and a boy 

 are employed at each line. The boy drups the plants along the row at the distance marked on the line, 

 and then removes the line to the next row, dropping the plants as before. The man does the planting, 

 and is responsible for the rows being straight. When coming to a rock the planter does not turn aside, 

 but goes on and places the plant in the row a little beyond. 



The row system facilitates weeding, admits a free current of air and sunlight, which is necessary 

 to harden and give strength and texture to the fibre ; allows the labourer to cut and bring out the leaf 

 with despatch, and what is of the greatest importance, gives room for replanting the field when the 

 life of the old plants are about to terminate, which cannot be done if the plants are growing over the 

 field irregularly. 



Plants of less than 15 inches are not planted. 



Management of the Crop. 

 Cutting. — Cleaning.— Yield per Acre. — Cost of Working and Profit. 

 Cutting. — In Yucatan the Henequen matures in 5 to 8 years. In the Bahamas the Bahama hemp 

 matures in 3 to 5 years. 



To neglect cutting the leaves after the plant is matured retards its growth which causes it to 

 "pole," at the appearance of which the life of the plant is ended, and the planter after reaping a few 

 leaves only, must then plant his fields afresh. On the other hand, when the cutting is regularly at- 

 tended to, the life of the plant is prolonged ; the plant will produce a greater number of leaves, and 

 fibre of a greater length and superior quality. 



The plant is cut every three months, when 7 to 9 leaves are gathered. The leaf is taken from 

 the plant with a "clean cut" making tLe cut down and inward at an angle of 45°. 



Cleaning. — As soon as the leaves are cut they are taken to the machine for " cleaning." The 

 cleaning is so arranged, that one half of the leaves to be cleaned is taken from the cuttings of the day 

 previous, and the other half from the cuttings of the same day, as in this manner the work can be 

 commenced early in the morning, and steadily carried on without waiting for leaves to be brought in 

 from the field. The leaves are not allowed to accumulate beyond half a "day's cleaning," for if left 

 to dry beyond the second day, they become hard, and the fibre when extracted will be dark. 



When the Raspador is used for extracting the fibre, 2 operators are required ; one stands to the 

 left of the wheel and the other to the right. The operator on the left taking a leaf fastens the small 

 end with a lever to prevent the whole of it being drawn into the machine ; the larger end is inserted 

 and cleaned; the other operator then hauls out and reverses the leaf putting in the uncleaned end, at 

 the same time taking a turn with cleaned end of the leaf around a brass cleat which is fitted to the 

 machine for the purpose, and managing a break that regulates the pressure required for cleaning the 

 leaf, finally drawing out the clean fibre. In this manner 14 leaves per minute or 8,400 leaves are 

 cleaned for a day's work. 



When cleaning with the Villamore, Prieto or other automatic Machines, all that is necessary is to 

 lay the bundles of leaves on a platform fitted for the purpose, when an endless chain draws them into 

 the machine, the mechanism of which is so arranged that one wheel cleans one half of the leaf, the 

 chain taking it along, where another wheel cleans the other half, and then throw* out the clean fibre 

 at the opposite end. Two men and a boy are employed at the machine ; one man to see that the 

 leaves enter the machine on their length, and that they do not " ride" one on the other : one to attend 

 to, and regulate the machine, and the boy to receive the fibre as it is broight out by the endless 

 chain. 



As soon as the fibre is extracted it is dried, for if allowed to remain without being exposed to the 

 sun, immeciately after cleaning, it becomes dark and spotted. 



Yield per acre. — The yield of fibre from an acre of " Henequen" is from 1,000 lbs. to 1,470 lbs. 

 per annum. The number of plants usually set out in an acre are 650, giving an average of 33 leaves 

 from each plant; and from 50 to 70 lbs. of clean fibre to the 1,000 leaves Making an average calcu- 

 lation of 650 plants to the acre, 33 leaves from each plant, yielding 60 lbs. of fibre to the 1,000 leaves, 

 the return would be as follows : 



33 X 650 = 21,450 leaves yielding 60 X 21 -rV p ff = 1,287 lbs. clean fibre per annum. The 

 planters never speak doubtfully of their returns, as experience shows them that their crops can be 

 relied on with almost complete certuinty. 



Cott of Working and Pro/its. — The planter estimates his crop to cost for cultivating, cutting, clean- 

 ing, baling and marketing from 2\ cents, to 3 cents per lb. At the present price of fibre 5 per cents, 

 per pound taking three cents, as the cost of production, an acre yielding 1,287 lbs. would give a net 

 profit of $25. 



