FIBRES 583 



tion of the fibre is done in a less primitive way, . and 

 fibre-extracting machines are in general use. 



The fibre obtained by using these machines is some- 

 times brushed after having been dried, and is then sorted 

 according to colour, depending on the requirements of 

 the various markets. 



On some plantations where, during certain periods of- 

 the year, the drying in the air proceeds too slowly, the 

 fibre as soon as it leaves the machine is submerged 

 in tanks filled with water. In these tanks the fibre is 

 subjected to a kind of retting process, by which the sub- 

 stances which cause discoloration during slowly drying- 

 are rendered harmless. 



Packing. The Java fibre is packed in bales of 50 to 

 100 kilograms, which are bound by iron hoops. The iron 

 hoops are very often substituted by bamboo, as the iron 

 is apt to corrode and the quality of the fibre consequently 

 suffer. 



Waste. The waste from the preparation, consisting of 

 broken fibres, etc., is a material suitable for stuffing- 

 cushions of carriages and a valuable material for the 

 manufacture of stronger kinds of paper. It is partly sold 

 locally and partly exported to Europe. 



Uses. As is generally known sisal hemp is of much 

 importance as a material for rope manufacture, and in 

 this respect a competititor of the other kinds of rope 

 fibres, such as Manila hemp, New Zealand flax, Mauritius 

 hemp, etc. 



The finer kinds of agave fibres are suitable for the 

 manufacture of fabrics which have to answer high 

 requirements of strength, and the Java Cantala has, on 

 account of its cleanness, whiteness, high brilliancy, fine- 

 ness, and flexibility, a brilliant future as a raw material 

 ftfr the weaving industry. 



The real sisal hemp is not sufficiently useful for spin- 

 ning and the subsequent manufacture of fabrics. 



Exports. The export of agave fibres from the 

 Netherland East Indies has only during recent years 

 grown in importance, as the result of the fact that the 

 larger estates which were laid out since 1904 gradually 

 reached the producing stage. 



