The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-07-11

or sausevieria. This frucraia plant is
very common in the gardens OF Homo
lulu. at times growing to height of
ten feet. The plant very much resem-
bles the sisal, except that the leaves are
much longer and broader. and of a
darker green. In the island Of Mauri-
thus. one of the principal industries is
the cultivation of this plant for its
fiber. it being exported for making in
expensive rope.
Another fiber that promises we'll for
this country is the New Zealand flax
The production of this fiber is one of
the important industries OF New Zea-
land. This fiber is produced from the
plant phormiumtenax. The plant grows
readily and yields a large quantity of
fiber which is used in the manufacture
of cordage and textiles. A cloth, which
resembles linen duck, is made from the
fiber.
One Of the native fibers here that has
been used for many years, the olona, is
considered one of the best in the world
although very scarce. The fibre comes
from d shrub. which grows in the deep
Iavines OF all the islands. It is con-
sidered one of the strongest fibers
known. and has been priced by the
making OF fish lines and fish nets. 1t
has the peculiar quality of Withstand
ing the effects of water and thus seems
particularly adapted for fish lines and
for cOrdage used in or near the water.
One of these fibers that has not been
taken advantage of, is the pineapple
fiber. This is grown very extensively
in Java and the far East for cordage
and textile purposes, principally the
latter. Everyone knows of the cele-
brated pima cloth which is made from
this fiber. In these islands there are
tons and tons of pineapple leaves go
ing to waste each year, but that phase
Of the pineapple industry having never
been given any attention. The fiber
from these leaves would add
to the financial interests of this splen-
did industry, which has done so much
to improve conditions in this country.
The best quality of this fiber is obtain
I'd from the pineapple p ant. which does
not bear fruit, but is grown especially
,or the fiber quality. Splendid speci-
mems of this fiber, as long as four feet,
ire obtained.
Another fiber which promises we'll for ]
his country is the Ramie or China ]
grass. This has been grown here for l
many years, but not commercially,
wing to the difficulty of its extraction.
Now that machines have been perfected
or this work, it would seem natural
hat a commercial enterprise should be
made of this fiber. 1t is used for cord
Lge purposes and for textiles. 1t is
considered the most remarkable of all
he commercial fibers for its adaptable
~, etc. Large quantities are imported
early from the far East. There are
dher fibers that grow well in this coun-
ry which have never created a mar
let for themselves.
The best all round fiber in the world
S the Manila hemp, derived from the
liant mustatextilis, which belongs to
he wild banana or plantain, the fruit
f this plant being inedible. Volumes
ould be written on the virtue Of this (
iber, but it suffices here to say that
n account of it's strength, it's length,
is color and it's adaptability to all
inds of cordage, it stands first in the
Der world. Strands to the length of ,
welve feet of this fiber are not I'M :
At the age of a about eighteen months ,
he banana plant is cut down and the :
bers extracted from the stem of the
liant. At present this fiber extraction
done only by hand, there being no 4
Machine made for this work. 1t is not
to expect that one will,
| the near future, be invented which