63 



where the rainfall is not large and well distributed all through the 

 year. 



There is a very complete set of specimens illustrating the Manila 

 hemp industry in the Kew Museum. Various qualities of the raw fibre 

 are shown from the Chatham Dockyard. In 1864 good fibre was stated 

 to be worth 46Z. per ton. A sample of " Quilot," one of the two 

 specially selected qualities of Manila hemps, was received in 1890 from 

 Messrs. Ide and Christie. It sells usually about 20/. per ton higher than 

 ordinary Manila hemp. A sample of Manila hemp prepared at British 

 Guiana in 1892 was valued at the time at 291. per ton. A " two-inch " 

 Manila rope from the Chatham Dockyard is shown side by side with 

 similar ropes made at Calcutta and Madras. The Chatham rope 

 had a breaking strain of 3,549 pounds. The manufactured articles 

 from Manila hemp consist of mats, cords, hats, plaited work, lace 

 handkerchiefs of the finest texture, and various qualities of paper. 

 The best qualities of stout packing and other similar" papers in the 

 United States are made from old Manila ropes. One of the latest 

 applications of Manila hemp is the manufacture of lace and materials for 

 ladies' hats and bonnets. The seat of the industry is at present at 

 Wohlen in Switzerland. The lace for millinery purposes is made from 

 pure Manila (Lupiz)hemp. It is used plain and dyed. The fancy hats 

 and bonnets are woven from similar fibre stiffened and made into 

 various patterns. Some of the hats are made of Manila hemp with a 

 border woven from Sisal hemp. Hats are also made from a straw 

 prepared from several strands of Manila hemp arranged side by side, 

 immersed in gum and pressed. This straw is smooth, polished, and very 

 pliable, exactly resembling the finest wheat straw. 



The stems of many of the fruit-yielding bananas and plantains also 

 yield fibre but not of so good a quality. Such fibre has long been used 

 by the natives of India for cordage purposes, for mats, and to a smaller 

 extent for making coarse paper. Dr. Royle devoted a considerable 

 amount of attention to the subject. His conclusion, after numerous 

 experiments, was as follows : " It is evident that plantain fibre possesses 

 sufficient tenacity to be applicable to many at least of the ordinary 

 purposes of cordage. The outer fibres may also be converted into a 

 useful kind of coarse canvas as has been done by Dr. Hunter ; and 

 the more delicate inner fibres most probably into finer fabrics as is the 

 case with those of M. textilis when equal care has been taken in the 

 preparation and separation of the fibres, and there is some experience 

 in weaving them." 



In Jamaica a series of experiments, undertaken by Mr. Morris in 1884, 

 showed that plantain fibre (Musa sapientum var. parad i siaca) was 

 whiter and finer than ordinary banana fibre and that it approached more 

 nearly to the fine glossy character of Manila hemp. A banana stem 

 weighing 108 pounds yielded 25 ounces of cleaned fibre, or at the rate 

 of 1*44 per cent, of the gross weight. A plantain stem weighing 25 

 pounds yielded 7£ ounces of cleaned fibre. This was at the rate of l*8i 

 per cent, on the gross weight. A sample of fibre prepared from a red 

 banana at Trinidad in 1886 was valued in London at 24/. to 25/. per 

 ton. Usually, however, banana fibres are not worth more than 121. to 

 15Z, per ton. They would only fetch even these prices when there is a 

 high demand for " white-hemp fibres" and there happens to be a short 

 supply of Manila and Sisal hemps. {Kew Bulletin, 1887, April, pp. 5-ft, 

 with wood cut). 



In the catalogue of contributions from British Guiana to the Paris 

 Exhibition of 1867 the following remarks are made in regard to the 



