Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1918 — New Fiber Plant [ARTICLE]

New Fiber Plant

A New Costa Rican fiber plant has beeu developed through selection and cultivation by M. Peralta of San Jose, and Is alleged to produce more and stronger fiber than henequen or sisal? A consular report states that the fiber is made into rope, twine, mats, bags, and even finer articles. The spineless leaf is 9 to 12 feet long, and each plant averages 30 leaves a year, yielding two pounds of fiber. With about 600 plants to the acre, cane, beans, potatoes, or, corn can be grown on the same land. Full growth, 1» reached lu five years, but cuttings—two a year—may begin two after planting the shoots.