644 
Philippine Journal of Science 
1919 
Machine-laid rope made of commercial cordage fibers gave 
very concordant results, the average maximum variations from 
the mean tensile strength in the dry and the wet specimens 
being 7 and 11 per cent, respectively. Handmade coir rope 
(coir is a filamentous fiber like abaca) also gives excellent 
agreement; this indicates that machine fabrication is not nec- 
essarily the main factor in determining whether the tensile- 
strength values v/ill be concordant or not. Therefore, the failure 
of a test specimen in an eye-splice is normal and there can be 
no question as to the acceptability of such values. Apparently 
uniforaiity in tenacity values depends largely upon the nature 
of the fiber, and the irregular tensile-strength values must be 
attributed largely to the crude, nonuniform nature of the bast 
itself. 
The summary of averages of the tensile-strength tests, break- 
ing length, weight per unit length, elongation, girth, diameter, 
etc., of the test specimens is arranged by species in Table 
XLII. 
SUMMARY 
The averages of two series of tests on the tenacity of Philip- 
pine bast-fiber ropes are given; the one on air-dry specimens, 
and the other on specimens that had been immersed in fresh 
tap water for twenty-four hours. In order to show the relative 
strength of bast ropes, as compared with standard fiber cordage, 
a few tests of machine-laid abaca and maguey rope are given. 
A few results of tests of miscellaneous ropes made of material 
not coming under the classification of either bast or standard 
cordage fiber have been included also. A primitive wooden 
rope-laying apparatus is described and illustrated. 
In Table III are recorded the mean tensile strengths of the 
dry bast ropes tested. Dry rope made of Gnetum sp. bast, having 
a mean circumference of 18 millimeters, heads the list with a 
maximum mean tensile strength of 773 kilograms per square 
centimeter (11,100 pounds per square inch). This value com- 
pares favorably with the values for “F” and “G” grades abaca 
rope. Rope made of coir fiber, which ranges in strength from 
170 to 185 kilograms per square centimeter (2,420 to 2,640 
pounds per square inch), ranks with the poorest basts. 
In Table IV are recorded the mean tensile strengths of ropes 
that had been immersed for twenty-four hours in fresh tap 
water. Rope made of Gnetum sp. fiber still heads the series 
with even augmented tenacity. It will be noted that wetting 
