XIV, 6 King: Philippine Bast-fiber Ropes 609 
that were mixed in were mahogany red on the outer face and 
pinkish cinnamon on the inner. The strands of the rope spun 
were about eight strips thick. 
When dry, the rope gives a medium tensile strength and 
breaking length. Rope made entirely of Corchorus olitorius 
gives about the same values. Wetting the rope made of the 
mixture of the two fibers decreases the mean tensile strength 
24 per cent, and that made of jute is reduced 28 per cent. The 
tensile-strength values given by the five dry specimens showed 
much variation, the maximum from the mean being 34 per cent, 
but the five wet test pieces gave more concordant results, the 
maximum variation being only 11 per cent. Four of the dry, 
and two of the wet, test pieces failed in eye-splices. The Fi- 
lipinos consider Urena lobata fiber to be fairly tenacious, but 
they say that it is not suitable for wet-weather use since it is 
unduly weakened when wetted and, besides, undergoes rapid 
deterioration. 
A summary of the tests made in the Bureau of Science is 
given in Tables XXII and XXIV and shows that Urena lobata 
and Corchorus olitorius basts have similar properties. 
Table XXII . — Physical tests of rope made from the bast of Urena lobata. 
[Rope made at Dolores, Abra Province. This sample was made of a mixture of Urena lobata 
and Corchorus olitorius in about equal parts.] 
Mean diameter: 
Millimeters 6.7 
Inches 0.26 
Mean perimeter, or girth: ^ 
Millimeters 21 
Inches 0.83 
True mean sectional area: 
Square millimeters 32.3 
Square inches 0.047 
Ultimate tensile strength (dry) : 
Mean in kilograms 146 
Maximum in kilograms 195 
Minimum, in kilograms 120 
Mean in pounds 322 
Maximum in pounds 430 
Minimum in pounds 264 
Ultimate tensile strength (wet) : 
Mean in kilograms 111 
Maximum in kilograms 122 
Minimum in kilograms 99.3 
Mean in pounds 244 
Maximum in pounds 270 
Minimum in pounds 219 
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