XIV, 6 King: Philippine Bast-fiber Ropes 633 
TABLE XXXV.—Physical tests of rope made from the bast of Cordia 
myxa—Continued. 
Mean ultimate tensile strength per unit area (dry): 
Kilograms per square centimeter 324 
Pounds per square inch 4,610 
Mean ultimate tensile strength per unit area (wet): 
Kilograms per square centimeter 263 
Pounds per square inch 3,730 
Mean elongation at instant of rupture: 
Dry (per cent) 11 
Wet (per cent) 14 
Mean weight per unit length: 
Grams per meter 34.9 
Pounds per foot 0.0235 
Average breaking length: 
Meters 4,125 
Feet 13,500 
Moisture (per cent) 8.54 
GNETACEAE 
GNETUM sp. Kuliat. 
Local names: Kalidt (Ilocano); kalidt or kandidt (Benguet); kandidt 
(Itneg) ; kulidt (Bataan). 
A small tree with oblong, glossy, entire, acuminate, thin 
leaves; flowers minute, crowded in the points of the inflores- 
cences; fruit ellipsoid, one-seeded, about 2 centimeters long, the 
seed edible; widely distributed in the Philippines at low alti- 
tudes; usually sylvan. 
Gnetum sp. bast strips are rich brown, free from irregu- 
larities, and have a decidedly waxy touch and appearance. The 
waxy surface imparts a glossy sheen and, combined with the 
smoothness of the strips, assists them to slip over each other 
when strained. The strands of rope average ten strips thick. 
The strips vary in width from 1 to 3 millimeters, average 0.25 
millimeter thick, and have a mean length of 503 millimeters. 
It will be noted that the strips are not only narrow and thin, 
but that they are shorter than those of any other bast measured. 
Of all the bast ropes tested, that made of Gnetum sp. fiber 
is the most tenacious and has the highest breaking length; 
moreover, it is exceptionally pliable. Gnetum sp. rope is 
stronger than machine-laid maguey rope made of Government 
grade Cebu No. 2 fiber and in tenacity approaches closely cordage 
made of the most superior grade of abaca fiber. When wetted 
for twenty-four hours this bast rope increases 31 per cent in 
