20 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



Fig. 10 shows the peduncle, capituluni and seeds with the plumes 

 expanded on the pillar or support ready for dispersion. The plumes 

 might serve for stuffing purposes. 



The seeds are interesting as showing a relationship to other plumose 

 seed-bearing members, of the British flora. Goatsbeard is a biennial 

 flowering plant. 



Gebanga Palm (Corypha Gebanga, Bl., Palmacese). This palm 

 grows wild in Java. The leaves are much used when young for making 

 into baskets and bags. The pith tissue furnishes a kind of sago. 



Fig. 10. Goatsbeard ; plumed seeds and stalk. 



In Java it is customary to employ boys and girls to weave the leaves 

 into baskets and bags. 



Fishing nets and a kind of linen-like material are woven from the 

 fibres. Ropes have been made from the twisted leaf stalks. 



Furcroea Fibre (Furcroea gigantea, Amaryllidacese). In an article 

 in the Textile Mercury, August 26th, 1899, the following account 

 of Furcroea fibre is given, viz. : "A new commercial fibre, Furcroea 

 gigantea, is being introduced into the arts as a substitute for Manila, 

 which it approaches closely in tensile strength. It is derived from a 

 species of aloe recently brought under cultivation in the neighbourhood 

 of Shenstone, Natal. The single fibres average 3 millimetres in length 

 and 0'032 millimetre in diameter. The single cells vary between 1-3 

 and 6 millimetres long by 0'021 and 0'042 millimetre wide. The 



