65 



when other fibres such as Manila and Sisal hemps are low, banana 

 fibre is practically unsaleable. 



The facility possessed by banana fibre for taking up colour is shown 

 in a specimen from Mr. Dickson. Paper prepared from banana fibre 

 and rags is shown from the late Mr. T. Routledge. Also various 

 papers made from banana fibre in India. From Mr. F. S. Reisen- 

 berger, in 1886, were received : 1, Half stuff from banana fibre ; 

 2, paper from pure Jamaica banana fibre ; 3, paper from equal parts 

 of banana fibre and rags ; and 4, paper from banana fibre loaded with 

 China clay. There is also a portion of a leaf, gluten and prepared 

 paper stock from the pisang utang from Sarawak, contributed by the 

 late Mr. T. Routledge in 1875. 



Fibre extracted from the 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 the best plantain fibre, and it was valued in London 

 at \2l. to 1U. per ton. 



Musa Basjoo is said to be grown in Southern Japan for the sake of 

 its fibre. It is known amongst Furopeans as the "Japanese plantain." 

 The fibre is woven into cloth of an exceedingly durable character. 

 Specimens are in the Kew Museum from Mr. J. H. Veitch, 1894. 



Mr. Ridley (Trans. Linn. Soc. iii M p. 385), speaking of a new species 

 described by him (M. malaccensis) from the eastern coast of the Malay 

 Peninsula in 1893, adds : — 



" An attempt has been made to utilise the fibre, but it is apparently 

 not so good as that of M. texlilis ; still as it is not only very abundant 

 throughout the centre of the Peninsula, but also springs up like a weed 

 in many places where old jungle is felled and forms an impenetrable 

 thicket, it will probably be found to be well worth extracting the 

 fibre." A sample of this fibre, as already noted, is in the Kew 

 Museum. 



A 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 weaving. 

 There is a native loom of a very primitive construction, apparently 

 similar to the one used in West Africa for weaving native " pagns " 

 cloths (Kew Bulletin, 1894, 191). It is capable, however, with 

 dexterous manipulation of turning out cloth of a close texture and a 

 very durable character. Two garments are shown made from banana 

 cloth ornamented with small tufts of leaves of a Pandanus. There are 

 also shown a decorated bag for holding betel and a sleeping: 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 made, and they are, next to the Abaca cloth (from Musa textilis 

 in the Philippines), the best fabrics in the Museum from bananas 

 and plantains. 



A fibre of a coarse character but evidently very strong, marked 

 u Sime firigo," said to be derived from a species of Musa, was received 

 from the Government of Queensland in 1890. li was obtained from the 

 Kiwai Fly River, New Guinea. 



Lace work ornaments worked with banana thread are in the KVw 

 Museum from Jamaica sent in 1855, 



23099 E 



