5/6 FIBRES 



of inferior quality from British India, Cochin-China, and 

 Ceylon, is obtained from the fruits of Bombax mala- 

 baricum and other species of Bombax. In recent years 

 the Government of German East Africa has spared no 

 trouble to encourage the cultivation of kapok in that 

 Colony in order that a product may be obtained, both as 

 regards quantity and quality, to compete with the Java 

 product in the world's market. 



The kapok tree requires very little care, and thrives 

 well when planted in any soil; climate also does not affect 

 it to any large extent. For increasing or renewing the 

 cultivation of kapok, the common method of propagating 

 is by setting out cuttings from the older trees. 



With its straight trunk and a few long horizontal 

 branches almost devoid of sprigs, and its scanty foliage, 

 the kapok tree has a peculiar and impressive appearance. 



The kapok tree is to be found in Java, not only on 

 lands belonging to the natives, but everywhere along 

 fields and roads, while some estates under European 

 management are interested in its cultivation. The area 

 planted with kapok trees on January i, 1911, amounted 

 to : 



In Java and Madura ... ... ... 68, 129 acres 



In the other islands of the Archipelago ... 4,419 ,, 



Total ... ... ... ... 72,548acies 



Of this total, an area of 52,661 acres in Java and 

 Madura is under cultivation carried on by the natives, 

 and in the other islands of the Archipelago an area of 

 4,293 acres. 



Preparation. The principal work of the kapok pre- 

 paration is the removing of the seeds, which is done 

 either by hand or mechanically by beating the kapok so 

 that the seeds are freed and can be removed. 



These seeds form a by-product, and are used by oil 

 manufacturers in Europe. 



The kapok, after being separated from the seed, is 

 pressed. 



On the plantations under European supervision much 

 attention is paid to the pressing, but in the establish- 

 ments managed by Chinese the pressing is often very 

 carelessly done. 



