652 , REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



A Juice is extracted from tlie pulpy heart of the trunk of the Corojo, 

 which, when fermented, becomes intoxicating, like the IVIaguay. This 

 pulpy heart is also fed to cattle in times of drought when other vegeta- 

 tion is destroyed. 



Attaleafunifera. — Monkey or Para Grass. — This palm is indigenous in 

 South America., and in Brazil is known by the name Pissaba. In Vene- 

 zuela it is called C hiquecMque. 



The species of the genus Attalea are all lofty trees, with large pinnate 

 leaves, and yielding large clusters of nuts. Those bfA.funifera are known 

 as Coquilla nuts. The stem of the tree rises to a height of 20 to 30 feet, 

 and is straight as an arrow. From the top of this springs a tuft of pin- 

 nated fi-onds or leaves, often 20 feet in length. The fiber is derived 

 from the decaying of the cellular matter at the base of the leaf stalks, 

 liberating the long filaments in large quantities, where it hangs in tufts 

 often or twelve feet in length. It is used very largely on the Amazon 

 for cordage and for brooms. Its principal export is to France and Eng- 

 land, where it is made into brushes for street-sweeping machines — chietiy 

 in London and Paris. It is one of the principal branches of commerce 

 between South America and the European markets, eight hundred tons 

 having been exported to England alone in one year. 



The filaments of this fiber are exceedingly coarse, stiff, and wiry, but 

 smooth and round. It is quite strong when subjected to lateral strain, 

 but, bent sharply, is found to be quite brittle, and breaks with ease. Its 

 color is a dark reddish-brown, and the woody interior is cinnamon-col- 

 ored. 



A bale of fiber, together with a number of brooms made from it, for 

 household use, was received from the Brazilian Commissioners (Exhi- 

 bition, 1876). Samples of cordage were also received with the Vene- 

 zuelan collection, called GoMe de Mo Negro. These cables are made in 

 200-feet lengths, and cost S5 cents to $1.40 per inch of circumference. 

 That is to say, a cable 200 feet long and 3 inches in circumference would 

 be worth, at 81 per inch, $3. The cordage is durable and light j swims 

 on the surface when placed in water. 



Oreodoxa rerpa. — "Palma real," of West Indies. — Six species of palms 

 belonging to the genus Oreodoxa are described — all natives of the West 

 Indies or tropical America. Dr. Parry, who. brought the museum speci- 

 mens from Santo Domingo, says the large sheaths of tlie leaves supply 

 material for thatching, and lining the sides of houses. It is also 

 used for floor matting and coarse baskets. The external ring of hard 

 woody fibers on the main stem is pressed out into thin sheathing boards. 

 The fruit of the species is in common use on the island for feeding hogs 

 and cattle. 



Garyota urens. — The Jaggery Palm. — Samples of fiber from this palm, 

 as well as tow prepared from it, were received from the Philippine Islands 

 and from Victoria, the latter prepared by Dr. Guilfoyle. The tree is a 

 native of Ceylon, and thrives in many parts of India, as Malabar, Ben- 

 gal, and Assam. It is also indigenous in iforthern Australia. 



In Malabar it is called Uvimpannah, and the Cingalese name is Kittul 

 or Kittool. It is a beautiful tree, growing to a height of GO feet, and is 

 surmounted by an elegant crown of graceful curved leaves. Tlie tree 

 is a foot in diameter. The fiber, which is black and v^ry coarse, is useil 

 for making ropes, brushes, brooms, baskets, &c., and a woolly substance 

 or scurf scraped from the leaf stalks is used ibr calking boats. It is also 

 extensively used in machine brushes for polishing linen and cotton yarns, 

 forcleianing flax fiber after.it is scutched, for brushing velvets, and other 

 similar purposes. In Ceylon the black fiber i>5 manufactured into ropes 



