COMMERCIAL FIBERS OF THE PHILIPPINES. 23 



to the fiber of B. tenacissima and that of China grass to B. nivea. This 

 suggestion has been adopted by recent writers. Neither of these fibers is 

 now produced on a commercial scale in the Philippines, and we have not 

 collected material by which to determine the species grown here. Neither 

 has it been determined which fiber possesses the more qualities and char- 

 acteristics of usefulness. Boehmeria nivea, however, is easily distin- 

 guished from B. tenacissima in that the lower surface of its leaves is 

 whitish. This species also grows farther north than the B. tenacissima 

 and is not so robust in appearance. 



These plants are herbaceous, with perennial roots. Under favorable 

 conditions they grow in clusters of 4 to 12 stalks from one root to a 

 height of 3 to 7 feet. They are in all probability natives of Java and 

 Sumatra, though they have been cultivated in China and India for many 

 centuries. This fiber differs from those previously considered in that it 

 occupies a different position in the plant's structure. Ramie is a bast 

 fiber ; that is, it is produced between the epidermis of the bark and the 

 woody substance of the stalk, but it serves the same purpose of conduct- 

 ing the sap that tho structural fibers serve. When the plants are grown 

 without branching the fiber is strong and durable. It can be very finely 

 divided and the ultimate cells are 120 mm. in length. It is similar to 

 flax in many of its qualities, except, perhaps, it is not so elastic. When 

 degummed it can be combed to almost the fineness and softness of silk. 

 It is not readily affected by moisture and therefore it is preeminently 

 suited to weaving into cloths. The well-known Canton linen is made from 

 this fiber. Ramie fiber takes dyes readily, and besides the finer cloths and 

 textiles made from it, it is used extensively for cordage nets and lines. 



PRODUCTION AND USES. 



The- greatest quantities of this fiber are produced in China and Japan, 

 where it is extracted by hand. Indeed, the supply is limited to those 

 countries where labor is cheap and abundant, for as yet no machine has 

 been constructed which can produce a fiber as clean and white as that 

 produced by hand. Moreover, the fiber extracted by hand is in a much 

 better state for degumming and combing than that extracted by ma- 

 chinery, because the hand process removes a considerable part of the 

 gum, which is rendered difficult of removal if permitted to dry on the 

 fiber. This gum is not soluble in water, as is that of flax and hemp, so 

 that it must be submitted to chemical treatment, and the conditions under 

 which it must be treated create an expense of about 4.9 cents per pound 

 above the hand-extracted fiber. The fiber may also be extracted by 

 boiling the stalks in water or alkaline solutions, but this has little advan- 

 tage over the simple hand-cleaning method. 



Where the fiber is cleaned by hand the stalk is grasped about 3 or -i 

 inches above the ground and with a skillful jerk the stalk is broken so 



