38 



together or apart, 2 to 5 cm. long, and of golden or rusty 

 color. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The plant grows on open, dry, grassy slopes and is found 

 in the Philippines only in northern Luzon. 



PREPARATION. 



straw. ^ — For slippers, the lower portion of the stalk, about 

 30 cm. long, is used. Its preparation consists simply in 

 drying the stalks in the sun. It is advisable to keep the 

 straw to be twisted or woven soft and moist by wrapping 

 it in banana petioles. The material is very strong and is 

 used for both the upper and the under sole of slippers. 



Rope. — For rope, the plant is cut at its base and dried 

 in the sun for three days. It may then be twisted. 



USES. 



The straw and leaves are used in slippers and rope. 



BIGAO. 



{Miscanthus sinensis.) 

 Bigao (Albay, Sorsogon) ; bigaho, gaho, guisa (Sorsogon). 



This is a very tall grass, rather common in the Philip- 

 pines at medium and higher altitudes. It differs from 

 tambo in that the stalk is not hollow but filled with pith. 

 The leaves, partly ensheathing the stem, are about 70 cm. 

 long, tapering toward the distal third, and between 3 and 

 5 cm. broad. The panicle is long, feathery in appearance, 

 and made up of a great number of simple, branching spike- 

 lets. The plant is in flower from July to October. Its 

 use as an industrial plant has been reported to the Bureau 

 of Education only from Albay and Sorsogon. 



PREPARATION. 



To prepare the stalks for use, they are dried for a few 

 days in the shade. Only straight stalks of medium growth 

 should be selected. 



* Information regarding the preparation and uses of cobboot are 

 taken from a report to the Director of Education by Mr. Gil Raval, 

 industrial supervisor of Ilocos Norte. 



