The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-02-22
ABAcA NEEDS GOOD SOIL.
Valuable Fiber Plant Which Flour
fishes In Philippines.

Valuable Fiber Plant Which Flour
ishes In Philippines.
The Philippine islands have ut pres
ent a monopoly Of the production Of
abaca, more commonly known us Ma-
Mia hemp, which Is In many particu-
lars the best vegetable fiber known
to commerce, says the Manila Bulletin.
The provinces which produce this val
liable commodity in considerable guam
tity are the most prosperous provinces
In the islands. Unfortunately, however,
the cultivation Of abaca cannot be y
definitely extended. The plant need
for Its satisfactory development a rich
and well-drained soil and a heavy rain
fall, quite uniformly distributed
throughout the year.
In many Of the provinces these con-
ditions do not exist, while in others,
like MindorO IL Palawan, where soil
and climate are ideal, scarcity Of Ia
Dor renders the production Of abaca
upon a large scale impracticable.
Furthermore, abaca plants are serio-
ously damaged, or even killed, by long
continued drought and are likely to %
uprooted during severe typhoons. Tho
inhabitants of Albay, Sorsogen and
Northern Samar were brought to dire
straits by the great typhoon Of Sept.
20. 1905, while most of the hemp-grow-
Ing provinces have suffered seriously
within the past two or three years
from drought.
AS conditions now stand many
abaca growing provinces have practical
" no other resources than those derived
from this valuable plant, 50 that II
the abaca crop during any year 10 .
failure laberers are left without work
and small growers find themselves In
financial difficulty.
The fact Is gradually dawning upon
the Inhabitants Of the Philippine ID.
lands that the conditions above out
lined may, to a large extent, be rem
edied by the cultivation Of maguey.
This valuable plant, from different Va
rieties of which are derived commer~
ciRl fibers v%ariously known as miguey,
%hannequin and sisal, Is a native of dcs-
ert regions. and when once established
Is not injured by the severest drOughtD
ever experienced in the Philippine IL
lands, he only effect of such long-con-
tinued periods of dry weather as oc-
u here being to Increase the per
centage of fiber which the leaves con-
tain.
Maguey has a further advantage over
abaca in that 1t cannot be blown down
or uprooted by violent winds. 1t has
no known insect enemies of Importance
In very exceptional Instances plants
may be observed with some of their
leaves perforated by the great beetll
t. which SO often attacks the trunks and
u leaves Of growing %cOcoanut trees, but
the plants are so rarely attacked BY
a. of insignificant Importance.
H. Another great advantage incident b
Ia maguey culture Is that it may be grow
10 upon soil SO sandy and poor that 4
" Is absolutely worthless for the produc
:, ton Of any other known valuable crOp
-, The plants grow well even In assure
y. In bare limestone rock, and the idea
- maguey soil is a light loan composer
Of leaf mold and decOmposed llmcst0ne
at II fragments Of undecomposcd lima
" stone are present In abundance, q
at much the better. ! have seen splendid
is ly developed maguey plants growing h
,e pure beach SAINT on the coasts of MIN
&c dorO and Tablas.
ra The cultivation Of the soil befOr
Mt planting 1t with maguey Is not necsa
so sary. 1t sufices to clear away tn
lie brush and grass with the bolo, and aft
er planting to repeat this operation
two or three times a year.
oil