Philippine Women
It is easy to see that abaca, with the many uses it is put to in the Philippine Islands and the many articles into which it is manufactured abroad, is of great importance among Philippine products. As American enterprise extends its cultivation, and introduces new and improved methods of harvesting and transportation, its importance as a source of wealth is sure to increase.
CHAPTER V
COCONUTS
Few Americans realize what an important part in the lives of the Filipino people the coconut plays. The tall slender trees without a branch, except the cluster of leaves at the very top, are the most characteristic feature of the Philippine landscape. These trees supply timbers for building, thatch for roofs and walls of houses, hats, fans, household utensils, oil, food, and drink. The trees are often used as corner posts for houses, thus giving a secure anchorage against wind-storms and earthquakes, while the roofs and sides are covered with coconut leaves.
Young Coconut Trees
Each nut is surrounded by a large fibrous husk, so that the fruit as it comes from the tree is two or three times as large as the nut itself. The fibers in this outer husk are very stiff and are used to make hats, brushes, mats, and other similar articles. Cups, spoons, ladles, and trays are made from the shell of the nut, which takes a very handsome polish.