Tests were made on samples of ramie fibers (Boehmeria nivea Hook., var. locally known as Murakami), obtained from three month old plants grown at Campinas, State of São Paulo. The harvested material was processed and the fibers were degummed and bleached by the methods described. The physical and chemical tests made on six samples of the fibers gave the following average results : PHYSICAL TESTS Length maximum.................................. 360 mm average .................................. 200 mm minimum .................................. 90 mm Width maximum ................................. 63 mm average................................... 32 mm minimum .................................. 16 mm Tensile Strength maximum ................................. 70 g average .................................. 32 g minimum .................................. 11 g Fineness .................................. 5.80 Higroscopicity ........................... 7.36% Reabsorption.............................. 7.94% Relation Y................................. 6198 Relation Z ................................. 5.68 CHEMICAL TESTS Hydyolvsis alpha...................................... 1.30% beta....................................... 2.56% Acid purifibation ....................... 2.30% Ash........................................ 1.20% Celulose.................................. 96.63%

In spite of the polymorphism of Phormium has long been known, no systematic attempt has been made until now to study comparatively the agricultural value and fiber quality of the varieties. This paper is concerned with preliminary results about leaf yield, fiber-content, und general growth of six varieties, of Phormium tenax Forster including a detailed fiber analysis. It is concluded that the varieties have shown strong differences in plant development and fiber qualities, suggesting that some of them would be much more suitable for the improvement of existing areas, and the establishment of new ones on a commercial basis.

In this paper it is presented a detailed fiber analysis of leaves of twenty mature sisal plants taken from four positions on the plant: 1) first developped leaves (75°); 2) leaves usually cut for fiber extraction (50°) ; 3) leaves adjacent to the central bud (25°) ; and 4) young leaves not yet unfolded from the central bud (0°). The results herein reported are against the prevailing opinion that the sisal leaf only matures after it has unfolded from the central bud. Neither the physical nor the chemical fiber characteristics were adversely affected even if cutting was carried out up to the very young leaves. This practice, however, cannot yet be advised, as it desirability also depends on the effects of the severe cutting upon the subsequent rate of growth of the new leaves. A cutting trial including the cut of all leaves every four months is still in progress. Preliminary results have shown that the plants of this treatment were able to develop eight leaves until the second cut, with an average fiber content of 3,7%.