FIBRES 579 



sterilization of kapok is possible without the product 

 losing any of its properties. 



It is not surprising, therefore, that the use of kapok 

 as a stuffing material for Army mattresses is rapidly 

 increasing.' Trials, conducted by the German military 

 officials, resulted in a decision that henceforth no other 

 material but kapok should be used for this purpose. 



Kapok has also been found a very useful and important 

 article for stuffing lifebelts and other appliances designed 

 to support heavy weights in water. Java kapok, having 

 great buoyancy, can carry twenty to thirty times its own 

 weight in water, while British India kapok can carry ten 

 to fifteen times its own weight, and cork only six times 

 its own weight. Java kapok does not lose its buoyancy 

 even after having been submerged for some days and 

 then dried. After thirty days' submersion kapok loses 

 only 10 per cent, of this property. A lifebelt filled with 

 2 Ib. of kapok can carry a weight of 50 Ib. in water. 



The above-mentioned properties are found in much 

 higher degree in Java kapok than in products of other 

 growth. 



Kapok is at present also used for spinning purposes. 

 Some years ago a German concern decided to spin this 

 fibre into yarns of various thicknesses. These yarns are 

 used for carpets, clothes, etc. Kapok is also used in the 

 manufacture of felt hats and in gun-cotton factories. 



RATTAN. 



Distribution in the Netherland East Indies. Rattan is 

 a more or less slender stem of various species of palms 

 belonging to different genera, of which the principal 

 is Calamus, sometimes subdivided into Calamus and 

 D&monorops. 



Rattan is to be found throughout tropical and sub- 

 tropical Asia, mostly in the islands of the East Indian 

 Archipelago, viz., Celebes, Borneo and Sumatra, and, in 

 much smaller quantities, in Java. 



Rattan in its natural state grows against trees, and is 

 gathered by the natives from the forests. There is no 

 proper cultivation of rattan in the Netherland East Indies, 

 it being a product of the forests and growing wild. 



