293 
when other fibres such as Manila and Sisal hemps are low, banana 
fibre is practically unsaleable. 
The fa acility ponsetecd by banana fibre for taking up. — is shown 
in a specimen from Mr. Dickson. Paper prepared from banana fibre 
and rags is cue from the late Mr. T. Routledge. Also various 
papers made from banana fibre in India. From Mr. F. S. Reisen- 
4, r 
China clay. There is also a p of a leaf, gluten and 
ira stock from the mene d — from Sarawak, contributed by the 
e Mr. T. Routledge in 
din extracted from e Abyssinian banana (Musa Ensete) at 
Jamaica by Mr. Morris was yielded at the rate of 1-16 per cent. of the 
gross weight. The fibre was somewhat weak and dull- -looking ; it had 
none of the lustre of e best plantain fibre, and it was valued in London 
at 122. to 144. pet e 
its fibre. It is known amongst Europeans as the “ Japanese plantain.” 
The fibre is woven into cloth of an was durable charaeter. 
Specimens are in the Kew Museum from Mr. J. H. Veitch, 1894. 
Mr. Ridley (Trans. Linn. Soc. iii., p. 385), speaking of a new species 
described by him (M. malaccensis) from the eastern coast of the Malay 
Peninsula in 1893, adds: 
«An vm a ^e been made to utilise the fibre, but it is apparently 
not so good as that of . textilis ; still as it is not only very abundant 
in many places where old jungle is felled and forms an impenetrable 
thicket, it ies probably be found to be well worth extracting the 
fibre." = mple of this fibre, as already noted, is in the Kew 
Museun 
very interesting series of articles prepared from the fibres of the 
stem of the banana was forwarded recently to Kew from the Solomon 
Islands by the Rev. R. B. Comins. The fibre itself is shown in a 
prepared state, some of it white and some black, ready for me 
There is a native loom of a very primitive construction, appar ly 
similar to the one used in West Afri ive * 
cloths (Kew Bulletin, 1894, 191). It is capable, however, with 
dexterous manipulation of ak out cloth of a close texture and a 
very durable character. Two garments are shown eid from Mori 
cloth ornamented with small tufts of leaves of a Pandan There are 
also shown a decorated bag for holding betel and a decid mat of full 
size. On one of the garments there is woven a tasteful pattern by 
means of the dark-coloured threads. These garments are singularly 
well sail e, and they are, next to the Abaca cloth (from Musa textilis 
in the Danni sre the best fabrics in the Museum from bananas 
and planta: 
A fibre 5 a coarse character pat Named very strong, marked 
* Sime m " said to be derived from a species of Musa, was received 
from the Government of Gerai 1 in 1890. Kn was obtained from the 
Kiwai Fly River, New Guinea. 
Lace work ornaments — with banana thread are in the Kew 
Museum from Jamaica sent in 1855. 
u 82629. E 
