38 



TEXTILE FIBRES. 



No. 19 shows a bundle of creamy-coloured soft spun staring yarn 

 from the dressed fibres of No. 18. 



No. 20. A sample of rope of good lustre for yachting purposes. 



No. 21. Twine spun from dressed Manila r fibres ; this yarn is fairly 



Fig. 23. Hanks of Manila fibre. 



round, with a well-marked screw line of a rather stiff straw-like lustre. 

 It is much in demand for trawl net-making and many other purposes. 

 For these samples of fibres, including Italian hemp, Russian hemp, 

 Manila and Sisal hemp, also the specimens of manu- 

 factured cords, twines and ropes, I am indebted to 

 " The Belfast Ropework Company, Limited," Belfast, 

 Ireland. 



Microscopic. Fig. 24 shows fibres of Manila hemp 

 as seen under a high power objective of the microscope. 

 a exhibits the normal structure of the fibres, and b a 

 fibre after treatment with nitric acid. The fibres are 

 cylindrical, but taper toward the apex. 



Mulberry Fibre (Morus nigra, Urticacere). The 

 Fig. 24. Manila bast material of the black mulberry tree, when separated 

 from the woody portion, produces a fine fibre that almost 

 equals silk in its lustre and elasticity. 



