239 



In this section also may be seen various species of Andropogon, 

 yielding ethereal oils, and a number of fiber plants, such as species 

 of Agave, Hibiscus, and Sanseviera. Most interesting to an 

 American in this connection are the plants of abaca, Musa textilis. 

 This species is a native of the Philippines, and as the source of 

 Manila hemp is the foundation of a large and ever increasing 

 industry. As yet it has not been found practicable or profitable 

 to cultivate the species elsewhere, so that, for the time being at 

 least, the Americans enjoy a natural monopoly of this important 

 fiber. 



The few species so briefly mentioned here indicate merely some 

 of the more important or interesting features of the garden. 

 There are scores of other species, used as forage or food plants, 

 for oil, for drugs, in dyeing, and in many other ways. 



As the visitor leaves the garden, he may well pause a few 

 minutes on the Landbouwweg and watch the display of local 

 economic plants. An unceasing stream of natives, each with a 

 shoulder-pole and two loaded baskets, passes by on the way to 



Fig. 25. Rice terraces on the Praenger Plateau, Java. 



market. A dozen different plant products may be seen in as 

 many minutes and each of them is of a little more interest to the 

 tourist if he has already seen the live plant growing in the garden. 



