29 



a period not exceeding twenty-four hours. If the strips 

 are put in standing water, the latter is frequently changed. 

 The sabutan strips are then placed in plain water or water 

 to which a little vinegar, lemon, or tamarind fruit has been 

 added and boiled for about fifteen minutes. They are then 

 washed several times in fresh water and spread out in the 

 sun to dry. If the day happens to be rainy, the strips 

 are kept in fresh water and the latter is frequently changed 

 until the sabutan can be put out in the sun.^ 



The best strips are prepared during the dry season, for 

 at that time of the year there are many sunny days and 

 better dried and colored material can be obtained. 



USES. 



If sabutan is not bleached it is light-gray in color. It 

 is the nearest approach to a 'Tanama straw" found in the 

 Philippines. Hats made of sabutan are strong and well 

 adapted to tropical wear. Sabutan sleeping mats are ex- 

 cellent in quality and the material of which they are made 

 not only takes dye readily but also gives pleasing tones. 

 The straw is excellent for carriage and house cushions. It 

 has also been tried out for tobacco cases and in the knot 

 weave on bamboo framework for hand bags and picture 

 frames. The various new kinds of sabutan articles made 

 in Philippine public schools within recent years are but 

 an indication of the many profitable uses to which the 

 material can be put. 



PANDAN OF MAJAYJAY. 



{Pandanus utilissimus.) 



. Pandan Majayjay, Cavinti pandan, pandan totoo, kalaguimay, Lui- 

 siana pandan (Laguna). Reported also from Nueva Vizcaya 

 and Tayabas. 



The plant attains a height varying between 4 and 6 m. 

 and has leaves fully 5 m. long and 20 cm. wide. Its 

 large fruit appears at first sight to be similar to the 

 jack fruit, but a closer examination makes the difference 

 evident. The whole fruit, about 60 cm. long and 20 cm. 

 wide and many kilos in weight, is made up of drupes. 



* See Bulletin No. 33, Bureau of Education. 



