COIR 201 



becomes coarser as the nuts ripen and then requires 

 to be soaked for a longer period in order to free it 

 from the corky tissue, with the result that the coir 

 acquires a dark colour. In the old, native system of 

 treatment, the coconuts are immersed in pits of salt 

 water and left there for several months, but in the pre- 

 paration of the best commercial coir it is now usual 

 to detach the husks, which is accomplished by striking 

 the nuts on sharp spikes fixed in the ground or by 

 means of a simple machine, and to steep these in large 

 tanks of water warmed by steam. The treatment is 

 much shortened in this way. 



After steeping the husks, which facilitates the 

 removal of the corky tissue, they are either beaten by 

 hand with wooden mallets or passed through a crush- 

 ing machine. The fibre, after leaving the crushing 

 machine, is passed into the extractor or breaking- 

 down machine, in which it is completely disintegrated. 

 The product is then treated by a " willowing " machine 

 to remove the dust and other non-fibrous matter. 

 In order to improve the colour of the fibre, it is some- 

 times bleached either by exposure to the sun or by 

 treatment with sulphurous acid. 



After being cleaned, it is of great importance that 

 the fibre should be sorted. It is usually separated 

 by a process of combing or hackling into two grades. 

 The coarser and stiffer or " brush " fibre is employed 

 as bristles for brush-making, whilst the longer and 

 finer " mat " or spinning fibre is used for the manu- 

 facture of matting or ropes. The very short fibres 

 are utilised as a stuffing material in upholstery, and 

 the dust and refuse for gardening purposes. 



The recorded estimates of the yield of coir per 

 coconut show great variation, as would naturally be 

 expected since the yield depends chiefly on the size 

 of the coconut. It seems, however, that on the 

 average ten fair-sized coast coconuts furnish about 

 5 Ib. of mat fibre and i Ib. of bristle fibre. 



The commercial value of Ceylon " bristle " fibre 

 in the London market varied during the years 1912- 

 1915 from i 8 to 26 per ton according to quality, and 

 that of Ceylon " mat " fibre from 8 to 14 per ton. 



