69 



same as for dumayaca. If the material is to be used imme- 

 diately, the inside part should be removed, but if the splints 

 are not to be used for some time the inner part should be 

 left. 



Greenish-white splints may be produced by scraping away 

 the green epidermis of the young petioles. Such splints are 

 also obtained by scraping below the dark-brown portion 

 of an old petiole. A dark-brown color verging almost to 

 a black may be obtained from old petioles. Light-brown 

 splints are procured from the upper part of old petioles or 

 the lower part of young ones. Splints, with the epidermis 

 left on, can be used to give variation to a design. 



Fibers. — The coarse, fibrous sheaths are cut off near their 

 base of attachment. The black, hard fibers that occur in 

 them are removed and may be used as a substitute for 

 bristles; the softer fibers are pulled out and twisted into 

 strands for rope. These fibers are called cabonegro. 



USES. 



Splints. — The splints make excellent weavers and are also 

 fairly satisfactory for spokes of baskets, but are not as 

 tough as those obtained from tipon-tipon. 



Rope. — Rope made from the fiber sheaths of the sugar 

 palm withstands well the action of salt water. The 

 strongest fibers have great tensile strength, but it is 

 extremely diflficult to get evenly matched fibers of uniform 

 diameter. The fibers can also be used for thatching, and 

 some reports state that in the course of time they become 

 fireproof. The fibers are also employed in caulking boats. 



Brushes. — The public schools in several places are utiliz- 

 ing the fibers in the making of floor, horse, and hair brushes. 

 The fibers are an excellent substitute for bristles, but are 

 rather too stiff and coarse for certain types of brushes. 

 It is believed, however, that an immersion of the fibers into 

 lumbang or linseed oil would soften them and make them 

 more pliable. 



Midribs. — If the midribs are separated from the leaflets 

 and cleaned, they can be woven into certain types of trays 

 and baskets. 



