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USEFUL FIBER TLAXTS OF THE WORLD. 



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Arenga saccharifera. Sago Palm of Malacca. 



Endogen. Palmer. Palm, upward of 40 feet. 



Malayan name, G-omuti ; known in Burma as toung-ong. This is also a Malayan 

 species, generally cultivated in India, the Asiatic islands, Java, Snlu Archi- 

 pelago, and Celebes. (See fig. 22.) 

 Structural Fiber. — The gomuti fiber, Ejoo or Eju of the Malays. The product 

 is a horse-hair like substance found at the base of the leaves, which is useful for the 

 manufacture of cables, ropes, brush making, and upholstery. '•'Within the sheaths 

 is found a layer of reticulated fibers, which is said to be in great demand in China, 

 being applied, like oakum, in calking the seams of ships" (Watt). Roxburgh 

 states that the black fibers of the leaf stalks are adapted 

 for cables and ropes intended to long resist wet. Sim- 

 monds regards the Ejoo fiber as superior in durability, 

 quality, and cheapness to cocoanut fiber, on account of its 

 resistance to the action of water. The fiber placed in the 

 bottom of a vessel is useful for filtering water of its me- 

 chanical impurities. Royle states that a coarse line of 

 Ejoo, tested for its strength, stood a strain of 85 pounds, 

 while a similar line of coir broke with 75 pounds. The 

 same author states that the bow anchor of a merchant 

 ship, buried in the sands of the Hoogly, was raised by 

 means of an Ejoo cable after three Russian cables had 

 given way in previous attempts. The fiber is equally 

 elastic with coir, floats on the water, and is more service- 

 able than coir. Sandals are made from the leaf sheath. 



Aristida adscensionis. Broomstick Grass. 



Endogen. Gramineos. A broom grass. 

 From the root fibers of this grass, which is common in 

 northwest India, a material is obtained for the manufac- 

 ture of weavers' brushes. Fine specimens of the product 

 were shown in the Indian Court at Chicago, W. C. E., 1893, 

 though little information could be secured concerning them. 

 "The Telinga paper makers construct their frames from 

 the culms; it also serves to make brooms" (Watt). Used 

 for tatties, or hot-weather screens, in India in the same 

 manner as the Cuscus roots (Andropogon) are employed. 

 The material is spread thinly over bamboo frames. See 

 Die. Ec. Prod. Ind., Vol. I, p. 312. The Indian Agricul- 

 turist for February 25, 1893, contains a full account of this 

 grass and the manner of collecting it for use in making 

 weavers' brushes. The Bot. Mus. Harv. Univ. shows 

 Mexican brooms made from the rigid culms of A. appressa. 



Fig. 22.— Leaf of the Sago 

 Palm of Malacca, Arenga 

 saccharifera. 



Aristotelia macqui. 



Exogen. Tiliaceae. A shrub or small tree. 



Native of Chile. The wood of this tree is considered to be the most sonorous of all 

 in the vegetable kingdom ; elegant and resonant guitars are made from it, and from 

 the bark are constructed strings for the same. The acid berries of this plant are 

 used in China as a remedy for malignant fever. In Chile they are used to make a 

 sort of wine. (Manual Hoepli. ) I can find no other reference to the use of this plant 

 for fiber. 



Arnotto or Annato plant. See Bixa orelUma. 

 Aromatic sumac. Bhm trilobata. 



