PRODUCTION OF HENEQUEN FIBER 3 
largely composed of a porous, partially decomposed limestone in 
which there are numerous pockets and in places a thin fertile cover- 
ing. The land is so rocky that trees can not be planted until holes 
have been blasted for them to grow in, and frequently even the small 
henequen suckers are propped up with small stones in places where 
there is practically no soil. Under these conditions the profitable 
cultivation on a commercial scale of any other crop would be ex- 
ceedingly difficult if not impossible. These unusual soil conditions, 
however, are practically ideal for henequen. 
Although it will thrive on land having but little soil, there are 
kinds and degrees of " rockiness " favorable and unfavorable for 
this plant. For instance, the soil conditions in the vicinity of the 
town of Motul are regarded as exceptionally favorable, for the rea- 
son that in this section the soil is filled with medium-sized and small 
rocks rather than having the unbroken strata of rock found in cer- 
tain other localities. 
The soils found in the eastern and southern sections of the hene- 
quen areas of Yucatan and in Campeche are more fertile and less 
rocky than the soils of north-central Yucatan, which is the principal 
producing region. Most of the planters believe that the fertile soils 
are not favorable for henequen. One objection to its cultivation in 
such soils is the increased cost of keeping down the weeds and un- 
dergrowth which grow very quickly in this country even on rocky 
lands. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 
Henequen is widely distributed throughout a large portion of the 
States of Yucatan and Campeche, but the principal fiber-producing 
area is a district which extends for about 60 miles south of Progreso 
and approximately the same distance east of Progreso and Merida. 
The town of Motul, about 30 miles northeast of Merida, is the center 
of one of the largest and most prosperous henequen-producing sec- 
tions. The conditions in this district are specially favorable. Good 
yields are obtained, and the fiber is of excellent quality. Many of 
the lands lying between Merida and Progreso are planted to hene- 
quen, and there are a number of large plantations south of Merida. 
A large part of the lands lying on both sides of the railway between 
Merida and Temax is planted to henequen. To the north, between 
Temax and the sea, the henequen belt extends somewhat farther to 
the east. Along the seacoast east of Progreso and north of Merida, 
Motul, and Temax there is a belt of jungle land, roughly from 3 to 
5 miles wide. Throughout this uncultivated area are many scatter- 
ing plants of wild agaves, including henequen apparently introduced 
from the plantations, and other species that may be indigenous. 
Henequen is not known as an indigenous plant. 
AREAS PLANTED 
There is considerable variation in the figures furnished by dif- 
ferent native authorities on the total area planted to henequen, the 
relative areas in large, medium, and small plantations, and the rela- 
tive areas in old, medium, and young plantings. 
The Comision Exportadora de Yucatan, which handles all the 
fiber and is in closer touch with the industry in Yucatan and Cam- 
