MANILA HEMP 161 



average of about O'ooi2 inch. The walls of these 

 ultimate fibres are of fairly uniform thickness and 

 enclose a large central cavity. The^ fibres taper 

 gradually at the ends and terminate either in a sharp 

 or slightly rounded point. 



Air-dried Manila hemp usually contains from 10 to 

 12 per cent, of moisture, but the fibre is very hygro- 

 scopic, and, if exposed to an atmosphere saturated 

 with water-vapour, it is capable of holding as much as 

 50 per cent. The product consists of a somewhat 

 lignified form of cellulose. The examination of a 

 specimen of commercial Manila hemp of good quality 

 at the Imperial Institute gave the following per- 

 centage results: Moisture, 10*2; ash, ri ; loss on 

 o-hydrolysis, n'2; loss on /3-hydrolysis, 17*8; loss on 

 acid purification, r6 per cent. ; cellulose, 78-6 per cent. 



As has already been stated, the principal use to 

 which Manila hemp is applied is for the manufacture 

 of ships' ropes and cables, for which purpose it is 

 particularly adapted by its great tensile strength 

 and its lightness. In the Philippines, some of the 

 finer qualities are woven into muslins and other 

 fabrics for the local market, and a small quantity 

 of the fibre is employed in upholstery, packing, and 

 brush-making. The waste material obtained in the 

 process of preparing the fibre can be utilised for 

 paper-making and yields paper of excellent quality. 



GRADING AND COMMERCIAL VALUE 



Irt grading Manila hemp, attention is directed 

 chiefly to the softness, colour and strength of the 

 fibre. These characters are dependent on a number 

 of factors, including the variety cultivated, the con- 

 ditions of soil and climate under which the crop is 

 grown, and the methods employed in extracting and 

 preparing the fibre. The quality also varies consider- 

 ably with the size of the stalk, large stalks yielding 

 darker, coarser and stronger fibre than smaller ones. 

 The position of the sheath in the stalk also has a great 

 influence on the nature of the product ; the fibre 

 becomes softer, whiter and weaker from the outside. 



