VEGETABLE FIBERS. 555 



"^vitbout auy joining, tlie process often occupying two or three montlis, 

 Tlie leaves are cut young, the stiff i>arallel veins removed, when thoy 

 are split into shreds, immersed in boiling water for a time, then dried 

 and bleaclied in the sun. 



Fandaniis iitiJis. — The screw-pines, of which there are 30 species or 

 more, are most abundant on the islands of the Indian Arcliipelago and 

 on the Mascaren Islands. Species are also found in parts of India. 

 Some of them grow to a large size, though the nmjority are but 10 or 

 12 feet high. 



The most useful species is P. utili'?, the Vacona or Bacona of Mauri- 

 tius, which is cultivated for the sake of its leaves, whicli are made into 

 sacks for coU'ee, sugar, and grain. They are also employed for cordage 

 in the South Sea Islands, as well as for covering huts and making mat- 

 ting. 



The leaves are not cut till the third year, and are regularly cropped 

 every second year afterwards. A plant will yield leaves enough for 

 two large bags. The leaves are prejiared as soon as taken from the 

 tree, the operation consisting merely in splitting the leaves into fillets, 

 which are three-fourths to one inch broad at the base, but taper to a 

 point. They are 3 to 4 feet in length. " One of them will support the 

 weight of a bag of sugar, or 140 pounds, without breaking." 



The sample of fiber was prepared by Dr. Guilfoyle at the Melbourne 

 Botanic Gardens, and was taken from dead leaves of the screw-pine. 

 It is quite strong, though poorly prepared, and .very dark colored. The 

 fiber should be smooth, white, and lustrous. 



Among other species P. candelabrum is the chandelier-tree of Guiana, 

 so named from its manner of branching. The fruit or seeds of some of 

 the species are eaten. 



22.— LlLTACE-13. 



This family contains a large number of fiber-producing plants, several 

 species of whicb are not only well known, but are exceedingly valuable 

 in a commercial point of view. 



The Yuccas, so common in our own country, belong to this family, 

 and the best known old-world representatives are the "Kew Zealand 

 Flax" plant, and the species furnishing the famous "Bow-string Hemp" 

 of India. 



Fhormium tcnax. — ITew Zealand fiax. — Habitat, iSTew Zealand. It 

 has also been introduced into Australia, specimens having been received 

 from Yictoria. The several varieties are : ITaraJcele, the common variety 

 of the low lands, FaritaneicJia, the yellow variety of the high regions or 

 hills, and Tihore, a superior quality. It is also called Xoradi or Korere 

 by the natives, while the fiber is known by the name ^InJia. Captain 

 Cook first brought this fiber to the notice of Europeans, he having found 

 it in common use by the natives of New Zealand, as he speaks of " a 

 grass i^lant like flags, the nature of flax or hemp, but superior in qual- 

 ity to either, of which the natives make clothing-lines, &c." It grows 

 on the north and south coasts of Kew Zealand, and is cultivated in 

 Australia, though to no great extent. It was brought to Ireland by 

 Underwood in 1798, and has been grown successfully in the open ground 

 in gardens in Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Dublin, and Widow counties. 

 It also flourishes on the west coast of Scotland, thougli the winters have 

 occasionally been too severe for it. The leaves of the plant in Ireland 

 grow Lo 5, G, 7, and 8 feet high, and it is propagated by offsets which 

 are not removed until the parent root is four years old. 



