65 



with this matter, the opinion of a prominent mat dealer 

 in the United States is of interest: 



A balangot (T, angustifolia) screen would be a commercial article 

 in the United States in length of 8 feet and width of 4, 6, 8, 10, 

 and 12 feet. If provided with a small wooden pulley and a small 

 abaca rope, the screen would sell for about 2 centavos per square 

 foot laid down in Manila. 



The straw is also twisted into twine and rope, but does 

 not possess great tensile strength. 



In the United States and Europe the chief use of the cat- 

 tail is in cooperage, for filling open seams in the heads and 

 between the staves of barrels. The stalks are also used in 

 foreign countries for chair bottoms and in packing glass 

 bottles and flasks. The soft velvety fibers of the flower 

 spike are used in upholstery. 



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