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knots and are easily prepared. Young roots are white in 

 color, while the older ones are pink. The preparation is 

 very simple, it being only necessary to clean them by means 

 of a "batakan" (a piece of tin with holes punched in) and to 

 dry them in the sun for a few hours. 



USES. 



Coir. — The fiber of the husk of the coconut known as 

 coir is a valuable product. It is used in the manufacture 

 of ropes and cordage and is woven into bagging and matting. 

 It can also be used for the making of strong doormats. 

 The fiber is also employed in furniture shops and carriage 

 factories for stuffing cushions. 



"Mutt heads" are carved out of coconut husks. 



Shells. — Polished coconut shells can be made up into a 

 number of articles such as spoons, cups, finger bowls, nut 

 dishes, savings banks, powder boxes, hair receivers, catch- 

 alls, collar and button boxes, and other objects. The shells 

 would also serve well for the bottom of pin cushions. 

 A pretty souvenir article such as a small guitar with a 

 coconut body would probably sell as a curio. 



Coconut midribs. — At the first Philippine exposition in 

 1912 one or two provinces exhibited tables and chairs made 

 of the midrib of the leaflets of the coconut which were 

 strong and serviceable. As the midribs are pliable, they 

 furnish a good material for the making of certain types 

 of trays and baskets. They are commonly used for making 

 coarse brooms. 



Splints. — The outer covering of the coconut petiole can 

 be used for spokes in basketry. The inner surface of the 

 splint is white; the outer, if secured while the leaf is still 

 growing, is green. If the splints are obtained from the 

 petiole of a dead leaf, their outer surface is nut-brown in 

 color ; all these colors may be used with white to give variety 

 to a design, but the splints have fewer shades than those 

 from dumayaca. 



Leaflets. — The leaflets are used for hats, mats, baskets, 

 thatch, and various other purposes. The articles made from 

 the leaflets are not, however, very durable. 



