PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 
By William H. Brown 
INTRODUCTION 
With the great variety of plants occurring in the Philippines 
it is not surprising to find a large number which produce useful 
fibers. Most of the fibers derived from the wild plants are, 
however, of little economic value and are used very locally for 
making inferior grades of ropes or for other minor purposes. 
However, some of them, as in the case of the buri, pandan, 
rattans, and bamboos, are the bases of considerable industries ; 
while abaka (Manila hemp), which produces the premier cord- 
age of the world, is a native of the Philippines. The use of 
Philippine fibers in the manufacture of hats has been extensively 
discussed by Miller * and Robinson.+ Muller has written a 
very good account of the various Philippine fibers used in the 
industrial work of the schools. A short account of some plants 
producing bast used in making ropes is given by Mendiola §; 
while King |! has written a very extensive and detailed discussion 
of the mechanical properties of a large number of bast fibers 
used in rope manufacture. 
Some of the most useful fibers which can be considered as 
forest products are derived from palms and bamboos, and have 
been discussed in sections dealing with these plants. They 
are used in the manufacture of hats, baskets, mats, furniture, 
ropes, thatching, etc. 


* Miller, H. H., Philippine hats. Bureau of Education Bulletin Number 
33 (1910). 
+ Robinson, C. B., Philippine hats. Philippine Journal of Science, 
Volume VI (1911), pages 93 to 131. 
+ Muller, T., Industrial fiber plants of the Philippines. Bureau of Edu- 
cation Bulletin Number 49 (1913). 
§ Mendiola, N. B., A study of Philippine bast fibers. Philippine Agri- 
culturist and Forester, Volume VI (1917), pages 6 to 39. 
| King, A. E. W., Mechanical properties of Philippine bast fiber rope. 
Philippine Journal of Science, Volume XIV (1919). 
319 
