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twenty in number, are used. Both the upper and lower internodes 

 are discarded, for the former is too weak and the latter too 

 coarse for hat material. The stem, after being cut, is allowed 

 to wilt for about twenty-four hours. Then sections are cut 

 at the nodes, and each cylinder is divided into three or four 

 parts and flattened. Part of the inner surface and of the outer 

 are cut off and thrown away. The remaining portions which are 

 perhaps one quarter to three eighths of an inch thick are then 

 spliced into from four to ten layers. Needless to say it requires 

 experience and skill to obtain these layers, which are often as 

 thin as tissue paper. The layers nearest the green epidermis 

 are considered the finest and best. The material is then boiled 

 in water for about half an hour and bleached in the sun, a 

 strengthening and whitening process. It is then ready to be 

 woven into hats. 



A thick-walled bamboo used in constructing houses and 

 bridges, and for other purposes is B. vulgaris. Among the thin- 

 walled bamboo used in a variety of ways may be mentioned 

 Schizostachyum acutiflorum, S. dielsianum, S. fenixii, S. hallieri. 



Turning to grasses herbaceous in structure we find vetiver, 

 Andropogon zizanioides. Two varieties of this well-known trop- 

 ical grass occur in the Philippines. One of these has fragrant 

 roots (var. genuina), while the other (var. nigritanus) has not. 

 The former variety may be recognized by its terminal dark 

 purple panicles and distinct awns on the spikelets. The var. 

 nigritanus has terminal greenish or purple panicles, usually the 

 latter, and the spikelets are either unawned or armed with short 

 awns. The fragrant roots are sold by itinerant vendors in the 

 streets of Manila and are used by the women to put into clothes 

 chests, trunks, etc. Philippine schools are introducing the use 

 of these roots in making fans. Occasionally hats are made from 

 the flower stalks. 



Considering the great use of rice straw by the Japanese it is 

 curious to note that the Filipinos hardly make any use of it. 

 The Bureau of Education is encouraging the use of rice straw 

 among the Filipinos. 



The panicles of Phragmitis vulgaris are used extensively for 



