COMMERCIAL FIBERS OF THE PHILIPPINES. 15 



As the plant reaches maturity suckers may grow out from the axils of 

 the lower leaves. These are best for reproduction, as they are large 

 enough by the time the plant dies to take its place. However, as a general 

 rule, they are not produced in sufficient abundance to supply the need of 

 large plantations. The plant does not produce seed abundantly, but upon 

 the flower spikelets are borne numerous small slips or suckers which fall 

 to the ground as the stem ripens. The flowering usually takes place 

 during the dry months, and these little slips may be collected and set out 

 ,in rows 1 foot apart and 6 inches apart in the row until they take root. 

 They do not need watering or shading, as they are extremely hardy. 

 They can be shipped long distances if kept dry. New plantations are 

 started and old ones are renewed by propagating these slips. The seeds 

 are only used for the production of new species. 



EXTRACTION OF FIBER AND YIELD. 



The method of extracting the fiber varies somewhat in different locali- 

 ties, but the essential principles are the same, that is, maceration in water 

 (sometimes in salt water), then rubbing and scraping. Oftentimes the 

 leaves are gathered and crushed or beaten and then piled in bundles to 

 ferment. When fermentation has ceased, the masses are thrown into 

 water until the pulpy material has further deteriorated, when the 

 crushed leaves are separated, rubbed and scraped, and then put out to 

 dry. In other instances the leaves are thrown into the water without 

 being crushed and fermented, but by this method the fiber is much 

 damaged because the leaves are so thick and impenetrable that the whole 

 mass partially rots. 



The fiber extracted is fine and soft, having a wavy appearance which 

 renders a bunch more fluffy than a similar bunch of Manila hemp or sisal. 

 Its whiteness depends largely upon the method and care in extracting it. 

 If produced in accordance with the best method, it is quite white and 

 brilliant. Another characteristic of this fiber is its elasticity, which 

 renders it adaptable for ropes and cordage for uses where sudden strains 

 are expected. 



Although the plant is quite widely distributed throughout the Archi- 

 pelago, yet the fiber is not produced for export on a very large scale. 

 During 1901 there was shipped from Manila, the only port from which 

 the fiber is exported, 875 tons (2,240 pounds each), valued at about $100 

 per ton, and for the the past six months of this year 867 tons have already 

 been shipped, while for the same period last year (1901) only 562.5 tons 

 were shipped. This would show a decided increase for this year, and in 

 connection with the figures it must be stated that this fiber is almost all 

 marketed before the beginning of the rainy season. 



The fiber is used very largely in Europe and the countries of both 

 North and South America for making ship's ropes and cables and for 

 ropes in mines, for lines, nets, and weavings for hammocks. In Mexico 



