Testing Thatch

[Johe Saunders]

I've got a lot of what we call 'cabbage' trees (actually a realtive of
the
lilly) that have a lot of long tough leaves that they drop at a
prodigious
rate. Anyone know of a testing method that would indicate in a fairly
short
time ....(if) suitable for thatching purposes?
Andrew Alcorn

You could try soaking, UV irradiation, and baking at
ambient levels and in swapped sequences of those cycles.
UV lamps are relatively inexpspensive.  To check for fungis
include some air drying time outdoors.  Check for 
flammability.