210 MISCELLANEOUS FIBRES 



The most valuable of the flosses is the product, 

 known as " kapok," which is derived from Eriodendron 

 anfractuosum, a large forest tree, which occurs in the 

 Dutch East Indies, India, Ceylon, West Africa and 

 other parts of tropical Africa, the West Indies, and 

 South America. The commercial supply is obtained 

 chiefly from Java, but small quantities are exported 

 from India and from the Philippines. The greater 

 part of the Indian floss exported, however, is the 

 product of Bombax malabaricum. 



The kapok tree grows at the sea-level and up to an 

 altitude of 3,000 or even 4,000 feet, but gives the best 

 yield and quality of fibre when situated at less than 

 i ,500 feet above the sea. It is said to flourish best on 

 a porous, sandy clay soil, in a warm climate, and to 

 be capable of withstanding heavy rains and resisting 

 long periods of drought. 



The propagation of the tree can be easily effected 

 by means of either cuttings or seed. In the latter 

 case the seed is sown in nurseries, and is only lightly 

 covered with earth. If the soil is poor, stable manure 

 should be applied about ten days before sowing. The 

 seed should be planted in rows about 10 to 12 inches 

 apart. When the young plants are about 5 or 6 

 inches high, they should be no longer shaded, but 

 exposed to the sun. If the plants do not obtain 

 plenty of sunshine, they grow tall and thin. The 

 seedlings are planted out when from eight to twelve 

 months old. In Java, kapok trees are commonly 

 planted about 12 to 15 feet apart along the roads in 

 the coffee and cocoa plantations. When the trees 

 are grown in special plantations, they should be 

 placed about 18 feet apart (about 144 trees to the 

 acre), for if planted more closely they soon interfere 

 with one another. The trees commonly attain a 

 height of 30 feet, but sometimes grow to 50 feet or 

 even more. 



Before transplanting, it is advisable to strip off all 



the leaves and to cut the stem down to a height of 



1 1 to 2 feet, and also to cut the chief roots so as to 



make stumps of them. If the top is not cut it will 



* usually die down to the ground. The trees sub- 



