The cultivation of the _heniquen_ is now carried on principally upon large farms or plantations known as _haciendas_, many of which have made their owners enormously wealthy. In starting a field of plants the suckers or _hijos_ are set out in rows, and cultivation is carried on once or twice a year to keep down the weeds. The appearance of the fields of Sisal and of the growing and matured plants may be seen from our illustrations. When the plant has been growing about five years some of the long, sword-like leaves will be ready to cut, those around the base of the plant maturing first. The time for cutting is indicated by the leaves assuming a nearly horizontal position instead of the more upright one of the younger leaves, at which stage the fiber is at its best. Then the natives, with their _corbas_ go through the fields and cut off the matured leaves, trim the sharp thorns from the sides and ends, and tie up the leaves in bundles of fifty, ready to be carried to the cleaning mill. The plant continues to yield a supply of leaves for a period of from ten to twenty years. The end of its usefulness is marked by the appearance of the flower stalk or “pole,” and the plant soon dies. [Illustration: CLEANED FIBER COMING OUT OF CLEANING MACHINE] Most of the large _haciendas_ are supplied with portable tracks, and small cars carry the bundles of freshly cut leaves from the fields to the cleaner house, where the pulp is scraped from the fiber by the powerful cleaning machinery. [Illustration: SISAL DRYING] As will be seen in the photographs, the bundles of leaves are taken up on an elevator and along a carrier, which feeds them into the machine. The grip chains of the carrier hold the leaves, while the scraping wheels clean the pulp from the fiber, first one end of the leaves being cleaned and then, as they are carried farther along, the second wheel cleans the other end. This leaves the bundles of the fiber still in the grip of the carrier, which takes it out of the machine as shown in the picture. It is then carefully hung in the sun to dry. When thoroughly dry the fiber is taken to the press and made into bales weighing about 370 pounds each. We have already mentioned the fact that Manila rope is frequently adulterated with cheaper and inferior fibers, and so Sisal in its turn has its inferior imitators, the most common of which is known as Istle, a fiber which also grows in Mexico as well as in other parts of the world. A recent government publication, speaking of the use of Istle in cordage, states, “this fiber has been regarded heretofore as suitable only for use in the _manufacture of brushes_.” [Illustration: 1. WAITING FOR THE PILOT 2. APPROACHING PLYMOUTH CORDAGE CO. PIER 3. COATED WITH ICE FROM THE STORM 4. LYING ALONGSIDE PIER 5. FIRST BALES COMING FROM HOLD 6. UNLOADING INTO WAREHOUSE SISAL STEAMER FROM YUCATAN ARRIVING AND DISCHARGING AT PLYMOUTH CORDAGE COMPANY’S PIER] [Illustration] CHAPTER III