The New International Encyclopædia/Hemp, Manila

HEMP, Manila, or Abaca. The fibre of a species of plantain or banana (Musa textilis), a native of the Philippine Islands, where it is extensively cultivated. It is most widely grown in the southern part of Luzon, and less extensively on the islands of Samar, Leyte, Cebu, and Mindanao. The fibre is white, easily separated, and very tenacious. The harder and stronger outer fibre is used for cordage, the finer inner fibres for weaving delicate fabrics, and the intermediate layers for manufacture of web-cloths and gauzes. From the finer sorts of the fibre, veils, crapes, robes, and women's hats of great beauty are made; also various articles of men's wear, as shirts and suitings of remarkable durability. Manila hemp is largely used in the United States for making binding twine and cordage. Manila cordage is now used for every purpose for which rope is employed. The best conditions for the growth of abaca are shade and abundant moisture, with good drainage. The finest growth is obtained on the slopes of the volcanic mountains. A new plantation is generally made of young shoots, which very quickly throw out suckers. Occasionally the plants are raised from seed. The cultivation of the plant is simple. Weeds and undergrowth must be kept down during the first season, but after that the plants will exterminate other growths. Plants raised from year-old seedlings need at least two years, while those raised from suckers require four years before they will produce fibre of value.

The abaca is cut just before flowering, near the roots, split open longitudinally, and the central peduncle separated from the sheathing layers of fibre. The fibrous coats are dried two or three days in the shade, and are then scraped until only the fibres remain. Two men will cut and scrape about twenty-five pounds of the fibre in a day. It takes about 3200 plants to produce a ton of 2240 pounds of fibre. The yield is about one and one-third tons of fibre per acre annually. The output of abaca is fairly uniform under natural conditions. The exports for several years preceding the cession of the islands by Spain averaged about 100,000 tons annually.