Director's Animal Report. 49 



maniifacflured from this fibre dyed with copper and logwood — a 

 deception also pradliced with coir. The excellent paper known as 

 "Manila" is made from the waste fibre of the abaca. 



The banana grown in these Islands for fruit is chiefly Musa 

 paradisica and its varieties, and experiments have been undertaken 

 at the Museum to ascertain the value of the fibre yielded by this 

 plant. A quadrant longitudinal se(5lion of an eight-foot trunk was 

 immersed in water and samples of fibre were extracfted at different 

 periods of maceration. The first sample was prepared before im- 

 mersion and the fibre obtained was of a beautiful glossy white color. 

 As the process of maceration continued the fibre gradually lost its 

 lustre and whiteness till after ten days, when the last was taken, 

 the color had assumed a dull grayish brown. The same deleteri- 

 ous effect was noticeable in the strength of the fibre, although by 

 no means to so pronounced an extent ; a marked deterioration, how- 

 ever, was apparent in this respect between the first and last samples. 

 The fibre was also found to vary in texture according to its position 

 in the trunk, that occupying the outer verticils being coarser, the 

 finer being reached b}^ regular graduation towards the centre. 

 The strength also varied in this respect as regards separate fila- 

 ments, although a yarn of the fibre was of at least equal strength 

 to one of the same size made from the coarser. The strength of this 

 fibre was determined to lie between that of pita and jute, and it 

 should be well suited for coarse cloth, binding twines and paper. 

 The experiments resulted in the produdlion of almost four per 

 cent, of good length fibre, with the addition of about one per cent, 

 of shorter and inferior waste, of use for tow and packing material. 

 The variations of strength and size of the filaments, which has 

 been remarked, is also to be found in the market samples of Manila 

 hemp. This, as has been stated, is chiefly due to the position in 

 the plant from which it has been taken, and careful manufadlure 

 should obviate these differences and produce fibre of more uniform 

 qualit3\ The contrast between Manila hemp and sisal in this 

 respect is remarkable. 



The chief conclusion deduced from these experiments was that 

 the banana growers of these Islands are wasting large quantities of 

 saleable fibre. As an additional product to the fruit, the harvest- 

 ing of the fibre should be profitable. Probably the most pradtical 

 means of dealing with the question would be to establish a fibre 



Occasional Papejis B, P. B. M., Vol. II., No. i.— 4. 



