1 Noy., 1897:] QUEENSTAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 389 
drops 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 is 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. In Yucatan, the 
Herequen matures in five to eight years. In the Bahamas, the Bahama hemp 
matures in three to five 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 eided; and the planter, aiter reaping a few leaves 
only, must then plant his fields afresh. On the other hand, when the cutting 
is regularly attended to, the life of the plant is prolonged, and the plant will 
produce a greater number of leaves and fibre of a greater length and superior 
quality. he plant is cut every three months, when seven to nine leaves are 
gathered. The leaf is taken from the plant with a “clean cut,” the gatherer 
making the cut down and inward at an angle of 45 degrees. 
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 are 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, two 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 the cleaned end of the leaf around a brass cleat which is 
fitted to the machine for the purpose, and managing a brake that regulates the 
pressure required for cleaning the leaf, finally drawing out the clean fibre. In 
this manner fourteen 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 throws 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 brought 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 immediately after cleaning it becomes dark. 
and spotted. 
The yield of fibre from an acre of Henequen is from 1,000 to 1,470 lb. 
per annum. ‘The number of plants usually set out in an acre is 650, giving an 
average of 83 leaves from each plant, and from 50 to 70 lb. of clean fibre to 
the 1,000 leaves. Making an average calculation of 650 plants to the acre, 
33 leaves from each plant, yielding 60 lb. of fibre to the 1,000 leaves, the 
return would be as follows:—33 x 650 = 21,450 leaves yielding 60 x 2154505 = 
1,287 Ib. clean fibre per annum. ~* 
