47 



SaivalV — For making sawali, the whole culm is split into 

 four parts. These are then divided again radially into 

 pieces as great as the desired width of sawali. The pieces 

 are then cleaned and split tangentially into strips of the 

 required thickness. Several species of bamboo besides B. 

 blumeana are used in the manufacture of sawali. 



Roots.- — The fine roots of bamboo make excellent material 

 for baskets. The roots used should be green, as the dead 

 roots are black and worthless for basketry. The small 

 knots upon the roots are easily removed by scraping the 

 roots with a knife. Care should be taken not to scrape 

 too deep, as it spoils the natural polish. Rub them with 

 sand paper and halve them for making the bottoms of any 

 basket. Be sure that the outer layer is removed, as it turns 

 dark with age. If properly prepared, the bottom of the 

 basket will be fine and glossy. 



Culms for house construction. — If strong and durable 

 bamboo is desired, only mature stems with branches fully 

 developed should be used. The best time for felling bam- 

 boo is said to be when the "sap is down," between 

 November and the latter part of January in most parts 

 of the Islands. If cut during the rainy season, it seems 

 to fall an easy prey to weevils, "bucbuc" in Tagalog. 

 Filipinos say that bamboo cut in the rainy season should 

 be thoroughly soaked in salt water to prevent insect attacks. 

 This statement is corroborated by Sir G. Watt, who says: 



Long immersion in water greatly enhances the durability (of 

 bamboo), rendering the stem less liable to the attacks of insects, 

 owing to the sap, which they are fond of, being quickly extracted. 



USES. 



B. blumeana furnishes the material for the bamboo hats 

 made in Baliuag and Pulilan, Bulacan. In Isabela and 

 other provinces this and other species of bamboo are 

 employed for hat manufacture. The important part played 

 by this bamboo in the building of houses and fences, in 



* Sawali is a term commonly used in the Philippines for spliced 

 bamboo that is woven into rolls about 2.5 m. wide and from 9 to 15 

 m. long. It is used for ceilings and partitions in houses. 



" Division Memorandum No. 8, s. 1912, of Occidental Negros. 



