FIBER PLANTS 185 



and silky and is extensively used for cordage. It has even 

 been recommended as a substitute for silk. The fibers are 

 readily separated by maceration in water for 4 to 8 days. The 

 staple of Devil's cotton is 4 to 6 feet long. The fiber is ob- 

 tained from the outer dry fibrous barkof the tree, and it has 

 been found that this bark develops so rapidly that it may be 

 removed 2 or 3 times a year. 



RAFFIA 



Raffia is a well known palm 50 to 70 feet high, known to 

 botanists as Raphia ruffia, and is native of Africa. The raf- 

 fia palm bears pinnate leaves 25 to 50 feet long. The com- 

 mercial fiber comes from both surfaces of the leaves. The 

 epidermis and the underlying hard tissue of the leaf is easily 

 stripped from the leaves in bands 3 or 4 feet long. The raffia 

 is used in Madagascar for hats, mats, and plaited goods. In 

 the United States the raffia is used principally by gardeners 

 and nurserymen as a binding or tying material in grafting 

 operations. It is also used in this country in wall coverings, 

 fine grades of matting, and for basket weaving. The palm 

 reaches maturity of its leaves at the age of 15 years and con- 

 tinues to yield crops of leaves for about 40 years, after which 

 it begins to fruit. As is the case with a number of other 

 palms the tree is of little commercial value after fruiting be- 

 gins. The export of raffia from Madagascar is about 5,000 

 tons annually. R. vinifera is a West African palm, which 

 is used for similar purposes. There are said to be about 

 5,000 square miles of this species near Lagos. Ultimately this 

 area will doubtless become of great commercial value. 



ESPARTO GRASS 



This is a tufted grass which occurs abundantly in Tripoli 

 and northeastern Africa generally. It is also cultivated along 



