50 Fibns of tJic Ha-a'aiiaii Islands. 



mill in the banana growing district. Arrangements could no doubt 

 be made with the growers for the purchase of their waste stems at 

 a nominal sum. Hawaii at present offers a most promising field 

 for a mill of this kind, as it would not only have at its disposal the 

 banana stems, but also the trash of the cane fields and the waste 

 sisal pulp, all of which are most excellent paper materials. An 

 opportunity such as this cannot for long be ignored, and a paper 

 mill must surely soon be established to utilize these almost limit- 

 less resources. A hybrid between Musa text His and J\f. paradisica 

 would probably yield useful results in both fibre and fruit, but it 

 would be most difficult to secure. The same objections which 

 are urged against this dual object in the case of the pineapple do 

 not appear to apply to the banana. It ma}- be remarked that 

 Musa tcxtilis produces a quantity of well developed seed from which 

 it may readily be propagated.' 



NEW ^BAI^AND FI,AX. 



Endogen. Structural Fibrk. Liliacca-. Phonnium tenax. 



This flag-like plant, bearing a flower stalk like the aloes, is 

 native to various parts of Australasia, especiall}- to New Zealand 

 whence it derives its name. Captain Cook first introduced this 

 useful fibre to Europe, which he describes as "of the nature of flax 

 or hemp, but superior in quality to either." It may perhaps be 

 due to these words that the term flax has unfortunately been ap- 

 plied to the fibre of this plant, an altogether erroneous term, the 

 true flax being a bast fibre. A very extensive use is made of New^ 

 Zealand flax by the Maoris. From the flowers they derive a pleas- 

 ing beverage ; the base of the leaves affords a gum which is of 

 value commercially ; the pith is used as tinder and to conve}- fire ; 

 the leaves are used entire to write upon with a sharp instrument, 

 and split to form straps, and to make excellent baskets. The fibre 

 is manufactured into garments and mats. 



3 An interesting account of the cultivation and manufacture of Manila hemp has, since 

 the above was written, been published by Mr. W. M. Giffard of this city, which is well 

 worthy of attention from all interested in this subject. A bulletin recently issued by the 

 Philippine Bureau of Agriculture, and reprinted for this Territory by Mr. Jared Smith of the 

 Agricultural Kxperiment Station, should also be read. The conclusions derived from the 

 above mentioned articles, and indeed all literature on Manila hemp, are that the conditions 

 of soil, situation and climate in Hawaii are eminentlv favorable to the successful introdutftion 

 of the cultivation of this fibre on a large scale. Mr. .Smith considers that the sites most suited 

 for this purpose are the windward districts, and mentions in particular Hanalei. Kauai ; 

 Xahiku, Maui; Hilo, Tuua, Olaa, and portions of Kau and Kona on Hawaii. 



