The mirror., 1914-07-23
GROWTH OF HEMP
IMPORTANT TO US
Especially Interesting, Will This Article
Concerning the 6rowth and Usage Of
Mexican Hemp be to The Boys Who
Make Our TWine.
YIELDS GREAT PROFIT
By Hemp


growth and usage of the Mexican
Hemp Plant appeared lately in az.
exchange. We have extracted thS
more interesting parts and give them
to you for your information. We
do not claim any credit or assume
any responsibility for the informa-
tion.-Nature has given Mexico a
plant which has been blessing.
The agave or century plant furnishes
both Mexican peon and landlord
with host of the necessities and
comforts of existence as well as
profitable investment.
The agave loves an area of
semi-arid climate and is suggested
by government specialists of the
United States that there are some
tens Of thousands of square miles in
western Texas and other southwes-
tern states, of little value for any,
thing else, where this plant would
thrive and produce an immense rev.
enue. 1t is proposed to introduce
the variety that produces that ixtle
fibre, which is quite similar to wild
agave that is now growing today
over a large area in Texas. The
hemp from this, or even that from
the native Texas agave. it is be-
lieved, would yield an enormous
supply of binder twine and other
cord and rope. The tremendous in
crease during recent years in value
| of the agave fibre, with it's main
market in the United States largely
among the farmers, give good prom
ise of success for such an industry
The peninsula of Yucatan alone, in
southern Mexico, now exports annu-
ally some $15 100000 worth of hemp
from the agave sisalana. The sisal
plantations are said to be exceeding
ly profitable.
Many Species
Of all the many strange and re-
markable plants found in the Mexi-
can wonderland by Cortez and his
followers, none excited more interest
than the plant, next to Indian corn
and potatoes, the most useful of the
natural products of tropical America.
There are about $50 different spe-
cies, of all sizes. and their hibitat
ranges from the low coastal plains
to 10000 feet above sea level. The
agave requires years for it's develop
ment and Towering and this has CIV
en- rise to the popular name century
plant" but it is doubtful if any
species spend more than fifteen or
twenty years in maturing. The most
remarkable looking of the agaves is
the huge, Maguey, the giant of the
entire group, its great, fleshy leaves
being sometimes nine feet long and
weighing over 100 pounds each.
Every plant bears from 25 to so
leaves around a massive, deshy base
and the largest plants weigh as much
as two tons. The leaves of this
giant plant spend all the years Of
their lmmaturity storing up quanti-
ties of sweet sap. At the expiration
of this period the supreme moment
of Towering and fruiting arrives and
with marvellous rapidity the gigantic
central flower stalk shoots up 80 to
so feet. The stalk is sometimes a
foot in diameter at the base, the up
per portion branching like won
verful candelabrum, bearing white
flower clusters, while bright t-colored
birds and insects sip the nectar.
After the seeds form, the hugh
leaves and the base having exhausted
themselves in this final effort,
wither and die. On the pulque
plantations the plant is not allowed
to flower, but the leaves are tapped
regularly for their juices.
Has Many Uses
The uses of the different species
and parts of the agave are almost
legion. The feshy bases of many
kinds are roasted and eaten, some
what resembling sweet potatoes, the
hearts of other kinds are boiled and
eaten like artichokes; the flower
stalks were formerly used by the
Indians for lance and the larger ones
are still used as house rafters and
for fences, while the broader leaves
are employed to thatch the houses.
One species furnishes remarkable
soap; the Mexican women prize it
for washing their hair which it
makes soft and glossy. 1t removes
stains from delicate fabrics and does
not shrink flannels.