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diameter. The leaves are 1.5 to 2 m. long, feathery in 

 appearance, and supported on petioles about 20 to 40 cm. 

 long. Each leaf is compound and made up of numerous 

 leaflets; the larger ones being 35 to 45 cm. long and 15 

 to 25 cm. broad. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



This rattan is found in the dense forests of most parts of 

 the Philippines. In former years it was collected in large 

 quantities near the towns of Angat and Norzagaray, Bula- 

 can. At the present time, owing to the indiscriminate way 

 in which the palms were cut, very little rattan is found near 

 the towns mentioned. A trip of two to three days far into 

 the interior of the Negrito country is now necessary to 

 obtain rattan of the diameter necessary for furniture 

 making. It is for this reason that some of the rattan fac- 

 tories in San Miguel, Bulacan, procure their rattan from 

 Iba, Zambales, and although the latter place is very distant 

 from San Miguel, rattan can be bought cheaper from Iba 

 than in Angat or Norzagaray, in spite of the much longer 

 water and land transportation necessary. 



PREPARATION. 



The removal of the leaf sheaths makes the stem ready 

 for use. 



Framework. — For the making of the framework of chairs 

 and similar articles, the rattan stalks are cut into the sizes 

 necessary for the making of the various parts. They are 

 then put and kept in steam for about ten minutes and 

 transferred upon an iron mold of the desired shape and 

 placed under a roller. The rattan being soft and pliable 

 assumes the shapo of the mold. The rattan is then tied 

 to the mold and allowed to cool and harden. In order that 

 the rattan may retain the shape of the mold permanently, 

 both the mold and the rattan are placed in steam for about 

 fifteen minutes. After cooling, the mold is removed and the 

 rattan will retain the shape that has been given to it. 



Cane seats. — For the seats of chairs, rattan of small 

 diameter is used. It is divided into halves, quarters, and 

 eighths and the inner part removed. The rattan splints are 



