125 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE FIBRE OF ENDOGENS. 
In a previous observation, we have already stated that an 
arrangement of fibre-yielding plants, according to scientific 
principles, would be found to be one which was also practically 
useful. We have seen that the fibres of Endogens separated 
for economic purposes, are contained in the leaves of these 
plants; also, that these leaves are usually long and narrow, or, 
as botanists describe them, sword-shaped. Their veins, more- 
over, are parallel, and not reticulated; also, arranged longitu- 
dinally, as are likewise the woody fibres; and all so regularly, 
that if these leaves were to grow together round the central 
flower-stalk, they would form rings of woody and vascular 
tissue, much as we see in Exogens or, indeed, in the different 
species of Musa or Plantain, in which the rings seen on 
the transverse section of the so-called stem, are actually formed 
by the encircling of the flower- and fruit-stalk or core by the 
sheathing foot-stalks of the leaves. 
Hence, to separate such fibres, simply scraping with a piece 
of wood, or beating between two stones, is sufficient. There- 
fore, passing them between rollers, such as those of the common 
cotton churka of India, if enlarged, or those of a sugar-mill, would 
not only be efficient, but economical. Whether these rollers 
should be plain or grooved, must be ascertained by experiment, 
and will depend, in some measure, upon the external hardness 
of the leaves, or their more or less fleshy nature; as this 
might soon fill up the grooves. Motion might be given to 
such cylinders, either by the Archimedean screw, cog-wheels, 
or by bands, moved by hand, or by bullock- or horse-power as 
practised in the cotton-cleaning machines and sugar-mills of 
different parts of India. Careful washing of the separated 
fibres is essential, in order to get rid of the adhering muci- 
laginous or other matter and the cellular texture, but the 
boiling in an alkaline ley may probably be dispensed with, as 
it does not seem to be practised in all places. But steeping 
in water, followed by fermentation and decomposition, is 
followed in some of these localities, and no doubt facilitates the 
separation of the fibre, at the expense, sometimes, of its strength, 
