16 
BULLETIN 1278, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
ment in quality of fiber and uniformity in grading is worthy of com- 
mendation, but it appears that the method used to accomplish these 
ends is not entirely satisfactory. The term " castigos," meaning 
chastisement or punishment, is resented by the planters. In the 
grading of fiber the planter who supplies a low-grade product must 
necessarily suffer the consequences, and it would seem that it might 
be advisable to emphasize the idea of a reward for the production 
of a superior fiber rather than of punishment for an inferior pro- 
duction. 
YIELD OF FIBER 
A number of different factors affect the yield of henequen fiber, 
among the more important of which are (1) the variety of plant, 
(2) number of plants grown on a given area, (3) the number of 
leaves obtained from each plant in a year, and (4) the size and 
quality of the leaves. 
Fig. 9. — Drying henequen fiber on racks 
Complete and accurate data regarding the yields of the different 
varieties are not available. Also, very little information is obtain- 
able concerning the relative yields where varying numbers of plants 
of the same variety are grown under the same conditions on the same 
area of land. In general, too thick planting results in reduced yields 
and fiber of inferior quality. 
On one plantation where an average yield of 25 kilos (55 pounds) 
of fiber per 1,000 leaves was obtained, 1,000 leaves weighed 600 kilos 
(over 1,300 pounds), showing an average fiber content of a little over 
4 per cent of the weight of the green leaves. On another planta- 
tion, where an average yield of 32 to 34 kilos (70 to 75 pounds) of 
fiber per 1,000 leaves was obtained, this number of leaves weighed 
700 kilos (over 1,500 pounds), showing an average fiber content of 
nearly 5 per cent of the weight of the green leaves. 
The average annual yield of fiber-producing leaves is about 25 
for each of the 900 plants grown on 1 acre of land, and 1,000 leaves 
should average at least 50 pounds of fiber. These figures indicate an 
