77 
CoMMERCIAL LEAF OR PETIOLE FIBERS 
The industrial fiber par excellence, whose successful cultivation 
has not been found possible outside of the Philippines, is abacA, 
r Manila hemp, Musa textilis. Typical plants of this species 
together with fiber in the process of dryi ing are shown in plate 
LVI i 
pinolpog. 
known too outside of the a of the making of abacé fiber into 
a fabric called ‘‘abac&4 sinamay.” The schools have extended 
the use of the fiber to the making of a great variety of articles. 
r 
the petioles under a dull knife. Various machines have been 
invented to do away with this hand labor but none has so far 
proven very successful. 
Instead of removing the individual fibers from the Hee i 
whole outer epidermis may be removed and then divided i 
strips. These strips are known as “lupis”’ and are very service- 
able in the making of coiled baskets. 
If the fibers are to be used for braid or cloth they must be 
tied together. This knotting is very neatly done by hand so 
that the knots are hardly prepa in the skein. The braid 
is known in the Weis trade eU.S.a ae braid and 
is imported from Switzerland. 
olpog is made ie weaving the fibers into cloth and then 
softening the latter by winding it around a at of wood a: 
beating it thoroughly with sticks as it is being 
A inamay is a gauzy fabric used by Filipino + women for 
waists (camisas) or like buckram to stiffen the bottom of skirts. 
e extension work of the schools utilizes the fiber wholly or 
in part in the manufacture of slippers, coiled baskets, bags, lace, 
lamp-shades, belts and furniture. 
Several varieties of the banana, Musa paradisiaca, a: are utilized 
quality of the fiber used. The fiber is prepared in the same way 
as abac&. Greater care is however necessary in its extraction 
