^V Yi >'V*' ' INTRODUCTORY 



long strands in which these fibres appear in commerce 

 are not individual cells, but are aggregations of 

 numerous small elongated cells, the so-called ultimate 

 fibres. In the case of flax and hemp, the ultimate 

 fibres are on the average about i inch long ; those of 

 ramie are much longer and vary from 3 to 12 inches 

 or more, whilst those of jute and its allies are only 

 about 0*1 to 0*2 inch in length. 



(3) Fibres which are obtained from leaves and 

 constitute the strengthening or fibro-vascular system 

 of these organs. This class includes the commercial 

 products known as Manila hemp, Sisal hemp, Mauri- 

 tius hemp, and New Zealand hemp. These fibres, like 

 those of the preceding class, consist of long strands 

 composed of a great number of small, elongated, 

 ultimate fibres, varying in length from 0*05 to 0-25 

 inch. 



(4) The woody fibre of trees which is used in enor- 

 mous quantities for paper-making and consists of the 

 various elements of which the fibro-vascular tissue of 

 wood is composed. 



(5) In this class may be placed a miscellaneous 

 series of products, such as coir, the fibres of which the 

 husk (or mesocarp) of the coconut fruit is composed ; 

 piassava, which consists of the ribs of the sheathing 

 leaf-stalks or petioles of various palms ; bass or 

 raffia, composed of epidermal strips peeled from the 

 leaves of certain palms ; Italian whisk or broom corn, 

 the stems of a certain kind of millet ; and Mexican 

 whisk, the roots of a species of grass. 



Economic Classification. A classification of the 

 fibres in accordance with their industrial uses must 

 necessarily be somewhat arbitrary as some of the 

 products are employed for several purposes, and 

 should therefore appear in more than one class. 

 Cotton, for example, is not only used for making 

 textiles, but is also employed for the manufacture of 

 cordage and paper, and for many other purposes. 



(i) Fibres used for the Manufacture of Textiles. 

 The principal members of commercial importance 

 belonging to this group are cotton, flax, hemp, ramie, 

 and jute. 



