96 



The question has been brought up whether the raising 

 of amlong is feasible in towns where the supply of air roots 

 for basketry is becoming scarce. As will be seen from the 

 foregoing, air roots develop best in damp, dense tropical 

 forests. While several species ^ of aroids producing air 

 roots are found in cultivation or at least semicultivation in a 

 number of Philippine towns, their development of air roots 

 is rather poor and slow. 



DESCRIPTION. 



The tips of the air roots are generally from 2 to 5 m. 

 from the ground and the roots ^re obtained by simply 

 pulling them down. Depending on the strength of the pull 

 and the luck of the gatherer, he will be able to obtain pieces 

 of roots ranging in length from a few meters to 20 m. or 

 more. 



The roots are usually brown in color, often fuzzy, and 

 covered exteriorly with a thin dead epidermis. This epi- 

 dermis when removed reveals the living epidermis, green 

 in color or sometimes white. Within this skin is the white 

 succulent tissue called the cortex and within the cortex the 

 central cylinder. 



As is natural, the middle-aged roots produce the best 

 material. In the very young roots the inner part, or central 

 cylinder, is too soft to permit of its use as a commercial 

 fiber. Old roots may be utilized although they are not 

 as pliable as middle-aged roots. 



PREPARATION. 



The only part of the root which is of commercial impor- 

 tance and which is used in basketry is the inner part, 

 or central cylinder. The central cylinder may be removed 

 from the outer part — cortex and epidermis — by taking hold 

 of it firmly and pulling it down. To do this deftly of course 

 requires experience. 



The central cylinder can be pulled out quicker by making 

 a circular incision around the cortex or twisting the latter, 



* Ex. Raphidophora merrillii, Scindapsua aureus. See also The 

 Philippine Craftsman, Vol. I, No. 4. 



