( 3 ) 
Bowstring hemp ( Sansevieria spp.) is at present 
a jungle product, but appears to offer possibilities 
as a subsidiary crop on old rubber estates. 
The soft fibres, which are used in the manufacture 
of textiles of different quality, include flax, jute, 
hemp, cotton, kapok, silk and wool, of which the 
first five are derived from plants. 
Koselle fibre, which closely resembles jute, is dis- 
cussed in this article, since a serious attempt is 
"being made to establish the cultivation of this fibre 
plant in Malaya. At present it is not one of the 
commercial fibres of the world, and its market value 
and possibilities have not yet been established. 
During the war period the price of fibres rose 
enormously but at the present time there is con- 
siderable fluctuation and prices have decreased. 
The experimental cultivation of Sisal and Mauritius 
hemp has been carried out for several years by the 
Department of Agriculture, but no yields have been 
recorded. Samples of Mauritius hemp have been 
reported on favourably and a specimen of Bowstring 
hemp prepared at the Department of Agriculture 
has been valued recently at £40 per ton, while 
samples of Foselle fibre have been valued at £20 
per ton for uncombed, and £30 per ton for combed 
fibre. 
Manila hemp, Sisal hemp and Mauritius hemp can 
all be grown in Malaya and appear promising, 
although no definite information is available as to 
the probable profits. 
In the marketing of fibres, considerable care and 
attention has to be paid to grading and baling. In 
the case of Manila hemp there are about ten grades 
