6 



small estates an improved model of the raspador, originally from Mexico is generally used, and 

 on larger estates a general use is made of the machines of Kruop, Boeken, Prie'to. etc., which 

 can work some tenthousand leaves a day. 



The fibre as delivered by these machines, is sometimes brushed, after having been dried and 

 assorted according to colour, which process is specially required by some markets. 



On some estates where during certain periods of the year the drying in the air goes on too 

 slowly, the product is submerged in tanks filled with water as soon as it leaves the machine. 

 In these tanks the fibre undergoes a kind of retting by which the organic substances, which by 

 slow drying would cause discolouring, are dissected and so become harmless. 



Packing. The Java-fibre is packed in gunny bags and shipped in bales weighing 50 to 100 

 K. O, which are bound by iron bands. Iron is very often substituted by bamboo as the corrod- 

 ing of the iron, causes the quality of the fibre to suffer. 



Waste. The waste from the manufacture consisting of broken fibres etc., is a material suitable 

 for the stuffing of cushions of carriages and valuable for the manufacture of stronger kinds of 

 paper. This waste is partly sold in the country and partly exported to Europe. 



Uses. It is generally known that the Sisal-hemp is of much importance as a material for 

 rope-manufacture, and in this respect a competitor of the other kinds of rope-fibres such as 

 Manila-hemp, New-Zealand-flax, and Mauritius-hemp. 



The Sisal-hemp, whether or not mixed with Manila-hemp, is being used more and more in 

 the manufacture of rope, for which, until recent years, Manila-hemp and New-Zealand-flax were 

 mainly used. 



