107 



operator bends down, grasping with the right hand the 

 whole strip on the outside near the ground, and then grad- 

 ually rises, pushing the petiole outward and upward while 

 at the same time the left hand is passed along the inside so 

 as to flatten the petiole. 



Starting near the upper third of the petiole, a diagonal 

 cut is made across its width through the inner skin and 

 pulp stopping at the outside skin, which later forms the 

 lupis. Then, with the left hand on the outer sheath, the 

 right hand carefully and slowly at first removes the pulp 

 and the inner skin. The left hand is now passed more 

 rapidly down the length of the sheath, and the right hand 

 at the same time quickly pulls off the rest of the pulp. 



About halfway along the length of the strip of lupis, 

 the whole skin is split by the finger nail into strips one-half 

 an inch or less in width. Beginning on the left side, the 

 alternate strips are taken up by the left hand and the 

 remaining alternate strips by the right hand. Then the 

 hands are spread apart, and all of these strips are separated 

 from each other by one movement. 



The strips ought to be hung immediately in the sun to 

 dry, for moisture or slow drying will cause discoloration 

 of the lupis. All of the petioles except the inner few may 

 be used in the preparation of the lupis. 



Quick drying produces white lupis; slow drying or the 

 use of old petioles, brown lupis of different shades. 



USES. 



Rope. — The chief use of abaca is as a cordage fiber. The 

 conclusion should not, however, be drawn from this state- 

 ment that it is the only good use to which it can be put. 



Tied or knotted abaca. — The tying of abaca fiber for 

 export is an important industry in Cavite, Batangas, and 

 certain other localities. The export of this fiber amounted 

 to over ^1,000,000 in 1911. In the Bicol Provinces the 

 fiber is softened by pounding before being tied. In a num- 

 ber of places the knotted fiber is woven into cloth. The 

 tied fiber, twisted into fine cord, is also suited to various 

 kinds of fancy work and coiled baskets. 



