100 
Europe at a cost not ont a 4l. to 6l. per ton, depending on con- 
dition. For paper-making it might be sufficient to cut the stems into 
short pieces, and then livide them longitudinally into numerous 
narro rips. These, after being passed between rollers to get rid 
©, 
of the water and mucilage, might be dried in the sun, and afterwards 
put up in compressed bales for shipment. 
The whole subject resolves itself into a question = cost, and it can 
only be practically solved in countries like Demer Trinida d, and 
amaica, where several thousand acres are occupied es anana pluie 
tions, and where sufficient material lies close at hand to maintain a 
moderately large industry. 
or some years considerable interest has been taken by the Govern- 
ment of Bengal i in the subject of the utilisation of plantain stems for 
“ of the most valuable fibres known, and is worth in London 
“ 307. to 407. a ton, a price that takes it quite out of the range of raw 
3 materials for paper. 
ave — ed by reference to a large English paper mo 
“ hst if it can be delivered cheap enough, plantain fibre would be 
p ; : ; 
“ exact value of r fibre can hardly be given until a trial shipment 
“has been put on the home ey mere in. Da fibre against 
3 “ which plantain fibre would be pitted as a raw al for the em 
maker, and the price of the best t Spanish Alase now (1883) sta 
‘in London at about 107. per ton. It is not likely that plan < Era 
¥ «Would $ = valuable as pea but it might bring as much as 77. to 
l. per 
It Speos ere the Bally Mills Company, near p orem has for some 
ing, : 
the results are said to be satisfactory. The co enai purchase the 
roughly dried stems from contractors who collect them from villages in 
the neighbourhood. The price paid by the mill is 3s. 6d. to 4s. per 
sun. 
of rough fibre are sbtalnece from each stem. B rough mode of 
se pag the fibre is not freed from the cellular cane and although 
it can be utilised on the spot it is doubtful whether it could be exported 
in ie state. 5 
mp 
ikonas of acres of wild a iri Ss growing in the Ch ittagong mi 
tracts, whieh it was thought might yield large quantities of fibre 
cheap rates. It was found, however, that any “attempt at crushing = 
ie and RTE espartos are quoted in London e, ae at 70s. to 
110s. e estimated value of plantain fibre must there reduced to 
one half. of ‘the aboye, 
