MANILA HEIvIP AND OTHER FIBRES 153 



foliage, weighed 41 Ibs. This was divided into two lengths 

 of 2J ft. each, and after being split longitudinally into 

 several pieces, was prepared by hand, and yielded 6| oz. 

 of clean fibre, or at the rate of 1-02 per cent, on the gross 

 weight. 



44 At the Hope plantation similar experiments were 

 conducted with banana stems which yielded very much 

 the same results. Two banana, stems, cut after fruiting at 

 two feet from the ground, and denuded of their leaves, 

 weighed 147 Ibs. These yielded 33 oz. of clean fibre, or 

 at the rate of 1-44 per cent, on the gross weight. 



44 From ordinary stems of banana, cut after fruiting at 

 about 1| to 2 ft. above ground, a settler might prepare 

 about 1 Ibs. of clean fibre ; but if the stems are large, and 

 if the whole length is used as well as the petioles of the 

 leaves, the amount of the fibre might be increased to 

 2 1 Ibs., if not 3 Ibs., per stem. 



44 The reports submitted by leading firms of fibre brokers 

 on the above samples of Jamaica banana fibre were as 

 follows : Messrs. Ide and Christe, Banana Fibre : 4 This is 

 only fit for paper worth about 7 or 8 per ton.' Messrs. 

 Colly er and Co., Banana Fibre : 4 No market for this ; very 

 weak, poor colour, woody ; nominal value 14.' 



44 It must be borne in mind that to obtain one ton of 

 banana fibre it will be necessary to handle nearly 100 tons 

 of fresh stems. These cannot be carried to a central place 

 for treatment, otherwise the cost of the fibre would 

 be increased beyond its market value. The stems will 

 be required to be dealt with on the spot. It is probable 

 that for banana fibre bought in Jamaica not more than 

 6 per ton (or less than Id. per Ib.) could be offered 

 for it. 



44 At the time I was investigating banana fibre I suggested 

 that 4 the merchants who purchase the fruit from the 

 growers might offer a small sum for clean and well -dried 

 fibre, and take it in small lots as it comes to hand. The 

 merchants could afterwards sort and pack the fibre and 

 put it up in tightly compressed bales for shipment. Some 



