FIBRES. 139 



from the fibre, and from this time its uses rapidly increased. 

 One of the earliest applications of cocoa-nut fibre was for stuff- 

 ing mattresses and cushions, and for this purpose it was 

 cleaned, crushed, and dyed in imitation of horsehair; for 

 brushes it was also early applied, and is still largely used 

 for this purpose. The treatment of the fibre and thB im- 

 provement of the machinery used had so far developed in 

 1842 that on the occasion of the baptism of the Prince of 

 Wales in that year, St. George's Hall, Windsor, was 'laid 

 with cocoa-nut matting, which fact was recorded in the Times 

 of January 26th in that year as follows : " The floor 

 was covered first with a matting made of the husk of the 

 cocoa-nut." 



The Exhibition of 1851 was the means of giving a 

 further impetus to the trade, from which time it has gone 

 on increasing. In the process of separating the fibre from 

 the cocoa-nut husk three distinct commercial articles are pro- 

 duced namely, the long fibres, used for matting and mats ; 

 the shorter or more stubborn fibres, for brooms and brushes ; 

 and the still shorter or refuse, for horticultural purposes. 

 As a further illustration of the commercial importance of 

 Coir, it may be stated that 5,246 tons were imported in 

 1866, which had increased in 1882 to 11,590 tons. 



Another important brush-making material, but of more 

 recent introduction, is BASS or PIASSABA, the produce of two 

 distinct palms namely, Leopoldinia Piassaba from Para, 

 and Attalea funifera from Bahia. These two kinds are 

 distinguished in trade, the fibre of the Attalea being 

 superior to that of Leopoldinia for brush-making, on account 

 of its being stiff and yet " springy," so that longer lengths 

 can be used ; the Para fibre is more flexible, and can only 

 be used in short lengths ; it is, however, of a brighter colour. 

 The Attalea fibre can be obtained either very fine or very 

 thick and strong ; each fibre is more or less round, while 

 the Para kind is flat. 



