GR translation: bits of string

[Mike Jing]

V153.8-10, P155.32-34   “There are sociologies,” Edwin Treacle, his hair
going all directions, attempts to light a pipeful of wretched
leftovers—autumn leaves, bits of string, fag-ends, “that we haven’t even
begun to look into.

The "string" here is just a normal piece of string, right? The published
translation interpreted it as part of a plant, which I don't think is the
intended meaning.