260 



The coarseness and weakness of the fibres are most likely 

 •due to imperfect cleaning and preparation. The samples were 

 too small for complete chemical examination, and owing to their 

 condition the results would not have been representative of the 

 behaviour and composition of the carefully prepared fibres. 



Commercial Valuation. 



The samples were submitted to commercial experts, who 

 reported that the Musa sapientum fibre was a well-grown fibre of 

 good length but totally lacking in strength, which is the most 

 important quality required in fibre for rope-making. At the 

 present time, in view of the high prices ruling for fibres, it was 

 valued at £28 per ton. 



The fibre of Musa malaccensis was described as a well-grown 

 fibre of satisfactory colour but much drier and more brittle than 

 Manila hemp. The value was estimated at about £35 per ton, 

 but if the fibre were of greater strength the value would be £6 to 

 £y per ton more. 



Conclusion and Recommendations. 



These fibres appear to be well grown but not very satis- 

 factorily prepared. The fibre from the wild plant, Musa 

 malaccensis, appear to be the more promising. 



If greater care were taken in the extraction process, so as to 

 obtain properly separated fibres of greater strength, there is little 

 doubt that the products would meet with a satisfactory sale. 



(Sd.) WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN. 



July 10, 1906. 



Notes on the Above. 



This paper will be read with interest by all who have turned 

 their attention to the Malay Peninsula as a fibre producing 

 country. The increased and excellent exhibits of fibres at the 

 recent Agricultural Exhibition show that some at least have their 

 attention called to this industry. Banana fibre has not rarely 

 been prepared in various parts of the world, and on previous 

 occasions both of our wild plantains have been under experiment. 

 Of these there are two common species and one rare one, 

 Musa malaccensis is practically a weed in fresh cleared jungle. 

 On the slopes of the Hermitage Hill in Perak, many years ago, 

 I found that a large area of forest had been felled with the 

 result that Musa malaccensis had sprung up like grass, one could 

 hardly get through it. Here was wasting perhaps hundreds 

 of tons of fibre valued at the worst at £35 per ton. The plant is 

 common and conspicuous all over Selangor and Perak, in damp 

 more or less cleared forest. Round Kuala Lumpur it abounds, 



