Roger Maynard, age 12, of Dover, Del., for his question:

WHERE DO WE GET RATTAN?

Rattan is a tough, stringy material that manufacturers use to make umbrella handles, walking sticks, furniture, baskets, ship cables and chair bottoms. Rattan comes from the reedy stems of different kinds of plants that grow in East India and Africa.

The trees that supply rattan belong to the genus of palms known as Calamus. The stems of rattan palms may grow to lengths of more than 500 feet. The plants climb over other trees by means of little hooks on their leaves.

In the countries where these palms grow, natives use the rattan stems to make ropes and mats. American and European countries import the stems.

Rattan is strong, bends easily and lasts a long time. The finest grades of rattan come from the island of Borneo. Other good rattans grow in Burma, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Sumatra.

Workers prepare the stems for shipment by cutting them into lengths of five to 20 feet. They remove the leaves and outer covering by pulling the stems through a notch in a tree or board.

Some rattan palms have fruit that can be eaten. Young shoots are also eaten like vegetables.