THE PLANTAIN AND BANANA. 



467 



The following is the mode of preparing plantain fibre in 

 Jamaica : — 



The plantain is cut when ripe, and the outside layer is split in 

 longitudinal slices and put through a mill, and afterwards boiled in a 

 copper, with a small quantity of potash, soda, or quick-lime, to tike 

 off the mucilage. This layer is the coarsest, and requires a longer 

 time to boil, therefore is to be done separately. The next layer is to 

 be done the same way, and being finer and more valuable, should be 

 kept by itself. The following layer ditto. The centre part of the 

 plantain ditto. 



As the inner part is the finest fibre, requires the shortest time 

 to boil, and commands the highest price, that is the reason why these 

 boilings require to be performed separately. 



After boiling, the fibre is hung up on ropes to dry, and it can then 

 be carried down and sold to the merchants, or shipped direct. 



Several modes have been recommended for the preparation of the 

 fibre. 



1st. Beating, washing, and drying. 

 2nd. Simply cutting and drying. 

 3rd. Scraping. 



If we look at the structure of the plant itself we shall be able to 

 form an estimate of those processes. 



The plant is composed of at least two very visible rows of cells, an 

 inner and outer, along its whole extent upwards and downwards, and 

 through every layer, there being several layers. 



The cells are formed of fibre, for " uprights " and " sills " and 

 " plates," and tissue, as it were for " plastering ; " the former useful 

 for ropes, fabrics, &c., the latter for paper. 



Of the processes named above, the last is the only one that produces 

 fibre in its pure state ; but, whether we scrape from the inner or outer 

 surface, we must lose all the tissue, and probably more than half 

 the fibre. 



The first process will produce the material of the plantain stalk 

 in a fit state for shipment with partially clean fibre, but nearly all 

 the tissue will be lost. The washing, also, should be simple rinsing, 

 for allowing the tissue to remain in water tends to discolour it 

 greatly. 



The second process, I imagine, would be very slow, in consequence 

 of the abundant water of the stalks. I apprehend also the dis- 

 colouration which would ensue from the process would render the 

 material all but unfit for market, except at a very low rate. 



It seems desirable that three or four objects should be kept in view 

 in any process. 



1st. Saving of the cellular tissue for paper. 



2nd. Preserving the fibre of an agreeable appearance. 



3rd. Ultimate freeing the fibre from the tissue. 



4th. Preserving all the fibre. 



And, with relation to these, the processes and mechanical arrange- 

 ment are to be considered. 



By no process of the hand can clean fibre be profitably procured. 

 For this resort must be had to machinery. 



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