108 
be seen, which will be succeeded by one or two more. It will at least 
be 16 months before the main shoot is fully matured and ready to throw 
out its fruit spathe. This is the best time to cut it down for fibre. If 
so desired, however, it can be utilised at an earlier age, but the per- 
At the age of 12 months when the main stem will be nearly fully 
grown, though not fully matured, two or three others will be of con- 
over many stems, or allow the jungle plants to encroach too much. As 
‘lis, I may mention one stool 
twenty years old that has not cost a cent, but has yielded stem after 
stem for treatment at frequent intervals during that period. 
e above remarks are based upon Manila hemp in North Borneo. 
re. 
e “stem” of the plant is composed of overlapping layers of the 
leaf stalks, somewhat similar to a stick of celery, but firm y d 
together. The fibre is found just below the surface on the outer side of 
native method is simple and cheap. The stem is cut down and each 
leaf stalk detached from the others. After this the operator sits down 
with the end of a stalk in his lap, he then makes a slight incision just 
ft k, much in the same way that the fibrous part of a rhubarb 
stalk is taken off whe eparing it for cooking. operation is best 
performed on the plantation itself, as the discarded portions of the st 
remain as manure a sufficient number of ribbons are obtained 
matter. As the st ea 
fibre that is not broken is of proper strength, and the resuli is pure 
strong A boy can clean in a similar way the few inches of the 
