After a few weeks. when the plants are quite dry. they are taken down and all the leaves cut off the stalks. The stalks are used as manure In the fields. The leaves are sorted by the coolies on live categories. namely. first. second. third. and fourth lengths. and one for broken leaf. They are tied in bundles of about sixty leaves each. For this work they are paid $4 (Mexican) per 1.000 bundles. A good working cooly can pick and sort as much as 2.000 bundles per month. and the sortingtakes about three months. * * * For the work in the curing shed. which is always under the direct supervision of the manager and some European assistants. Chinese and Javanese coolies are employed and they get paid by the day 20 cents (Mexican) per man. Some estates also employ for this work Javanese women. who work cheaper. although the work is not equally good as that performed by the men. The women receive 10 cents per working day.