41 



is cut from the cane stalk and split into strips of the desired 

 width. These are carefully scraped with a knife to remove 

 all hairs or fuzz. 



A geometrical design is then drawn and cut from a card 

 or bristol board. The latter is then covered with glue or 

 paste and the splints of the material are fastened to it and 

 allowed to dry.^ 



TALAHIB. 



(Saccharum spontaneum.) 



Talahib (Albay, Isabela, Sorsogon, Tayabas, Zambales) ; bugang 

 (Bohol) ; sidda (II. in Zambales) ; sikal (Isabela) ; tigbao 

 (Antique, Occidental Negros, Iloilo) . 



Although talahib grows to about the same height as 

 tambo, leaves and panicles easily distinguish it from the 

 latter. In talahib, the leaves are very harsh, long, and 

 narrow; the panicle is white, generally not as long as in 

 tambo, and consists of fine, fragile branches bearing spike- 

 lets supplied at the base with numerous soft, silky hairs. 



It has two flowering seasons — one extending from Sep- 

 tember to November, the other from April to June. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The plant inhabits open waste places and fallow lands and 

 is of common occurrence in the Philippines. 



USES. 



Albay, Sorsogon, and Tayabas report this grass as being 

 used for brooms; in Capiz, the flower stalks are utilized 

 for hats; in Antique, the panicles are used for stuffing 

 pillows and the stems for temporary fences. In Zambales 

 Province the plant is employed by the hill people for arrows, 

 roofing, and walls of houses. In Oriental Negros the flower 

 stalks are used in making picture frames, screens, and wal! 

 pockets. 



BACLIT. 



(Sporobolus elongatus.) 



Bacuit, banquit (Iloilo) . Also S. indicus. 



The specimens of this grass in the industrial museum of 

 the Bureau of Education show that the plant has slender 



' From a report to the Director of Education by Mrs. Emilia Jara, 

 principal, La Paz Primary School, Iloilo. 



