248 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WOULD. 



Musa textilis. Manila Hemp. Wild Plantain. 



Native of the Philippine Islands, where there are about 12 different varieties of the 

 plant under cultivation. Spon states that the largest areas are grown in the provinces 

 of Camarines ind Albay, in the south of Luzon. Smaller areas arc on the islands of 

 Samar Leyte", Cebu, and Mindaneo. Plants are said to be found in Borneo and Java. 



Native and common names. — Abaca (Phil. Is.j: Piwangulan. (Malay) j Manila 

 and Cebn hemps (English and commercial ). 



The Department made an effort to introduce this plant into Florida about 1890 

 The seed was well distributed, hut no reports were received further than that it 

 failed to germinate. Attempts to introduce the plant into the West Indies have also 

 proved unsuccessful. 



Structural fiber.— The fiber is white and lustrous, easily separated, Stiff and 

 very tenacious, and also very light, which is a great advantage when the fiber is 

 used for the rigging and running ropes of ships. Viewed microscopically the bun- 

 dles of fibers are very large, but are readily separated into smooth hhers of even 

 diameter after the alkaline bath. The central cavity is large and very apparent, 

 the walls being of uniform thickness. The ends grow slender gradually and regu- 

 larlv. The detached sections (cross sections) appear irregularly round or oval in 

 shape, and the central cavity is very open and jirominent. As to tenacity, compared 

 with English hemp, it stands as follows: A rope of manila 3J inches in circumfer- 

 ence and 2 fathoms long stood a strain of 4,669 pounds before giving way, while a 

 similar rope of English hemp broke with 3.885 pounds. A second test of rope If 

 inches in circumference, and the same length, gave 1,490 pounds for the manila and 

 1,184 pounds for the English hemp. 



A large aud valuable collection of abaca or manila hemp was received at the 

 Phil. Int. Exh., 1876, comprising a large, portion of the fiber exhibit of the Philip- 

 pine Isles. The fiber is exhibited in different stages, as well as samples of abaca 

 cloth and the manufactures from it. Other samples were received from the 'Queens- 

 land exhibit, prepared by Alexander McPherson, as well as from the other interna- 

 tional exhibitions held since that time. 



While the hemp is called abaca by the natives of the Philippine Isles, other names 

 are given to the different qualities of fiber, as bandala, which appears to lie the 

 harder and stronger outer fiber, which is used for cordage. The finer fibers of 

 the inner layer are called lupis, and are employed in weaving delicate fabrics, while 

 the intermediate layers furnish the aupoz, which enters into the manufacture of the 

 web cloths and gauzes. The natives distinguish the several varieties of the plant 

 as follows: Abaca brava, or the wild abaca, called by the Bicoles agotai] the moun- 

 tain abaca, which is used for making ropes, called agotar/ and amoquid; the sagag 

 of the Bisayas; the laquis of the Bisayas. by whom the fibers of the original al>aca 

 are called la/not. 



Uses of the Fiber. — The manufacture of manila hemp in this country is for the 

 most part confined to binding twine and cordage. Mr. Joseph Chisholm, a veteran 

 manufacturer of Salem. Mass.. states that manila hemp began to be used exten- 

 sively in this country, in Salem and Boston, in 1824 to 1S27. In 1820 a sample was 

 brought to the first-mentioned city by John White, a lieutenant in the United States 

 Navy, on the brig Elizabeth. 



The fiber is imported in bales of 270 pounds, costing at present about 44 cents per 

 pound: January, 1890, 11 cents per pound. One New York manufactory used in 

 1879 41,366,710 pounds of this fiber, equivalent to 153,173 bales. While American- 

 manufactured manila goes into the rigging of vessels or is used on shipboard, it also 

 finds use for every purpose for which rope is employed. In regard to the capability 

 of the abaca for the manufacture of fine fabrics. M. Perrouttel. a French botanist, in 

 theAunales Maritimes et Coloniales da France, states that from the liner sorts of the 

 liber tissues or muslins are made of great beauty, which are very dear, even in Manila. 

 He says: I had a number of shirts made from the muslin, which lasted me a very 



