675 . 



each layer or leaf-sheath is divided into three strips.. The outer r 



layers contain a coarser and stronger fibre than the iniier, while , 

 Hbre from near the middle is of a fine silky texture, and, capable 

 of being utihsed for purposes of spinning. or weaving and made 

 into articles of dress and ornament.. The method of preparing, 

 the fibre is very simple, but effective; each strip, in a -fresh 

 succulent condition, is taken up by hand and drawn deftly 

 between a blunt knife and a hard smooth board whioli are attached 

 to a light portable frame; this process, repeated several times, 

 if necessary, removes all the watery particles and pulp and there 

 remains iii the hands of the o])erator a beautifully white and 

 kustrous fibre. The fibre is thoroughly dried in the sun and 

 afterwards packed in bales for sliipment " (Kew Bull. April, 1887, 

 from a report by Consul Honey, Manila). Special care .is taken, 

 in grading the several quahties which may vary according to 

 variety, cultural conditions, etc. 



The hand method of preparation does not seem to have been 

 improved upon. Machines have ofteii been tried with success, 

 but owing to the abundant and cheap labour available they have 

 so far, not been considered advantageous (I.e. 189o, p. 208). 

 There is in the Museum at Kew an apparatus similar to that 

 described above, which had been used in India (Ootacamund- 

 Proudlock, 1904) for the preparation of Plantain fibre. The 

 total weight is 22 lb. il oz.j'that of the knife being 4 lb. 10| oz. 



Samples of the fibre grown in Trinidad from seed imported 

 from the Phihppines has been valued at £30 per ton when " fair 

 current" Manila was at £25 per ton; fibre from the Kilgiris/ 

 India, said to be suitable for binder twine, has been valued (Oct. 

 1903) at £23-£24 per ton (Co!. Eep. Ann. No. 601, 1909, p. 26) 

 and Manila Hemp from the Belgian Congo, 4-5 ft. in length, with 

 an analysis, normal for this fibre, was valued in I^ondon (May, ' 

 1917) at £35-£40 per ton. (Bull. Imp. Inst. 1917, p. 491). It 

 would seem, therefore, that experiments might be carried out ^ 

 in Nigeria with some hope of success. 



Hef. — " Manila Hemp {Musa textilis) " in Kew Bull. April, 



1887, pp. 1-3. "Manila Hemp in Brirish North Borneo,", 



I.e. 1892, p. 243; 1898, pp. 15-18. -"Manila Hemp Plants/' 



I.e. 1895. p. 208. Ibid, in Add. Series ii. "Vegetable Fibres," ^ 



pp. 95-109. " Manila Hemp," in Commercial Fibres : Their ' 



ith Special Reference to the Fibre Industries 



Maj 



History and Origin 



Morris, Joum. Soc. Arts, Reprint, 1895, pp. 17-18.— — " De 



Mu 



lem, March, 1895, pp. 3-9.- ;" Note sur la culture de 1' Abaca 



aiis Philippines," De Berard, in I^'Agnc. prat, pays chauds, i. 

 1901-02, pp. 89-104.- — "The Production of Hemp in the 



Philippine Islands," in Joum. Soc. Arts, 1; 1902, p. 680^^ 



TTamn " in Thft Prnna nation of Tronical Fruit Trees 



Manila 



and Other Plants, Oliver, U.S. Dept. Agric. Bureau of Plant 



No. 46. 1903, pp. 23-26. " Manila 



In 



