Manila Hemp

MANILA HEMP.

Manila hemp is a Philippine export, grown on hillsides of Luzon and other provinces that have a very humid, hot atmosphere. The plant, near relative of the banana, grows like the maize, or Indian corn. The fibre is in the overlapping leaf-sheaths, that support a stem twenty feet high. When about five years old the plant throws out its flower shoot. When this appears, the whole stalk is cut down; the fibrous leaf-sheaths split into strips then the strips drawn under the blunt edge of a heavy knife, held against a board. The process

scrapes the fibre free from pulp. In some places the work is now done by machinery.

This white or pale red fibre is stiff and coarse, but long, light, strong, and durable. It is the best material for binder twine and for ships' cables and other cordage. When ropes wear out, the refuse is made into Manila paper.