The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-08-21
.0L0NA NOT
GOOD FIBRE
An Official Report
Made by an
Expert.

| Olona fibre is OF no value CONNER
cially according to a report received
from the Depa ;ment of Agriculture by
Director Jared G. Smith of the United
| States Experiment Station.
The olona fibre grows wild in the
Olaa district on Hawaii and many
years ago was believed to be very val
liable. The difficulty has always been
in obtaining a suitable mechanical ex-
tractor and the Department finds this
to be hopeless. The sample of specimen
of fibre obtained from the material
sent by Director Smith was sent back,
and is apparently of little value. 1t
| appears to be very fine but has little
| strength.
The Olona is a native name for a
| Hawaiian plant which was much used
in years gone by for the manufacture
of fish lines and nets. These were of
course made by hand. and the fibre
was extracted through the same print
tive methods. In the seventies the
| fibre was exported to Switzerland
! where 1t was sold to Swiss Alpine clubs
it being much in demand because of
its light weight and great strength.
The sample obtained by the govern
of light weight is not of great strength
The letter received by Mr.. Smith
from Lyster II. Dewey, the botanist in
charge of fibre plants, contains also a
communication from the chemistry
| bureau where tests were made of the
fibre. Mr.. Dewey also says he is glad
to learn that the ssal industry is be-
coming well established in Hawaii.
I am forwarding to you herewith
copy of a report of the Bureau of
Chemistry on Investigations which
| they made at my request in regard to
methods for extracting the olona fiber.
When submitting the specimens, |
asked especially to have the nature of
the gum determined If possible. Their
report indicates that water-retting ar
pears to be the most practicable meth
cd for dssolving the gum. I fear that
water-retting is improbable from
commercial standpoint. I forward to
| you herewith the specimen of fiber
which they obtained. Fiber of this
character would have no value for any
manufactures so far as ] am aware.
Washington, d. c., June ., 1903.
Mr.. Lyster II. Dewey,
Division of Botany.
| Dear Sir: We have subjected the
fiber plant, Touchardia latifclia, to an
elaborate investigation for the purpose
of determining, If possible. some means
| of removing the gum, in accordance
with your suggestions. Various re-
agents were tried for the purpose of
separating the outside material from
| the fiber, but it's reagents We're found
to be water at about 80 degrees c..
which softens the material so that
washing in flowing water and comb
| ing the straight fiber will remove prac-
ideally all the material surrounding the
fiber. The nature of this material has
not been definitely determined, but it
Is little affected either by hydro
chloric acid or by yeast. 1t Is prob
ably a gum or conference.-the adhe-
sive carbohydrate. The material which
was treated Is enclosed herewith to
show the success we had with it. The
sample has been over-retted and con-
sequently somewhat weakened and
| darkened. Retting from Is to 20 days
| will probably so loosen the fiber that
the outside material may be removed
by conf ing the straight fiber in rum
ming water.
Respectfully,
H. w. WILEY.
Chief