262 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



and of a silky luster. The bundles of fibers form filaments of unequal size, which are 

 easily separated by friction. It has considerable elasticity, but readily cuts with 

 the nail. Microscopically examined, according to Ydtillart, the fibers are remarka- 

 ble for their slight adherence. The individual fibers seem very regular, having a 

 uniform thickness, and the surface is smooth; they are stiff, straight, and very fine, 

 and the central cavity is very apparent. 



The Department of Agriculture was able to secure from the New Zealand exhibit, 

 Phil. Int. Exh., 187(3, a collection of over 100 specimens of this fiber and its manufac- 

 ture, the series well illustrating the many uses of this valuable textile, the methods 

 of preparation, and the native manner of dyeing it. The machine-prepared series 

 was very full, and the samples of manufacture included nearly everything that can 

 be made of fiber. In cordage there were 3-inch cables and ropes of all sizes, horse 

 halters, small cordage, lead lines, fish lines (for sea fishing), and twine of the finest 

 finish. The series of mattings illustrated the many ways that the fiber may be used 

 in the household, as door mats, parlor and bedroom mats (in colors), and hearth 

 rugs, while the finer kinds of fiber were made into cloth not unlike linen duck, into 

 satchels, table mats, shoes (a kind of sandal), sacks, etc. Floor matting, carriage 

 and railway mats were exhibited in variety, plain and in colors. The nets, of which 

 there were many samples, could hardly be told from linen, both in color and finish. 

 It is hardly necessary to state that these were not of native manufacture, as much of 

 the fiber was exported, made up into the various articles enumerated. This was 

 due to the fact that the English ropemakers did not pay for flax liber a price 

 proportionate to that given for manila hemp, and it was, therefore, found more 

 profitable to manufacture at home and export the rope rather than the baled fiber. 

 Some of the specimens were, to the touch, as soft as the finest flax, and such fiber is 

 doubtless well adapted to fine fabrics. Varying quantities of the fiber have been 

 imported into the United States for the manufacture of cordage and binding twine, 

 though at the present time the imports are small. There was a sudden increase in 

 the quantity, however, about 1892, and it was subsequently learned that the liber 

 was largely used in the construction of the "staff/' or outer covering of the principal 

 "World's Fair buildings at Chicago. It was used to toughen and hold together the 

 plaster and other materials, which, when combined, formed this building material. 



As to tenacity, Royle gives the breaking point of New Zealand flax, compared 

 with flax and hemp, as 23.7 to 11.75 and 16.75, respectively. In the Official Hand- 

 book of New Zealand it is stated that "during a late severe gale at Auckland it was 

 found that flax rope, when subjected to the same strain as manila hemp (Musa icx- 

 tilis), remained unbroken, while the other gave way." Experiments by Professor 

 Hntton with leaf strips one-eighth inch in breadth from middle part of young full- 

 grown leaves showed the following breakage strain for four varieties: Tiltore, 48 

 pounds: Hardkeke, 42 pounds; Paretaniwha, 42 pounds; Wharariki, 34 pounds. lie 

 concluded that Tihore is the most valuable variety for all purposes; but the kinds 

 that should be cultivated would depend upon the nature of the soil, for swamp llax 

 of excellent quality could be grown in places where the superior Tihore could hardly 

 live. But all the varieties of P. colensoi (now P. cookianum) should be carefully 

 avoided, or, if manufactured into fiber, should not be sent into the market under 

 the same name as liber from P. tenor, or the latter will fall in the estimation of the 

 public, from the inferior strength of the former. 



PRODUCTION. — On the best lands an acre may contain 2,000 bum lies of the plant, 

 or 100,000 leaves. These leaves, after cutting olf the gummy and useless butts and 

 drying in the sun, weigh about five to the pound, bo that an acre may give nearly 

 10 tons of sun-dried leaves. When the outer leaves only are taken the quantity will 

 be reduced to 4 tons. Assuming a yield of 15 per cent of clean fiber upon these 1 

 tons, the return should be 12 hundredweight an acre to which may be added about 

 8 hundredweight of tow. The weight of green leaf required to produce 1 ton of fiber 

 is stated by different authorities as follows: ."» . tons, 6 tons, 6 tons, 6| tons, 7 tons, 

 7 to 8 tons. To obtain 2,000 bunches to the acre, however, the planting must be very 

 close. (Spon.) 



