MINOR PRODUCTS OF CEYLON 519 



is the manner in which the branches stretch out horizontally in 

 whorls, at right angles to the stem. The tree is deciduous in the 

 dry season, January to April, the greenish-white flowers being pro- 

 duced in clusters shortly after the leaves have dropped, and the 

 fruit pods which follow are ripe about three months later. The 

 latter contain a quantity of silky cotton (kapok), and when ripe 

 burst open and disperse their contents. The pods should there- 

 fore be collected before they are quite ripe, being then dried in 

 the sun. Kapok is largely used for stuffing pillows, mattresses, 

 upholstering, etc., both in the countries where grown and in those to 

 which it is exported. The largest supply come from Java, where 

 the trees are planted as a secondary product. The export of kapok 

 from that country has increased from 1,125 tons in 1899 to over 

 8,000 tons in 1911. In the latter year about 100 tons were exported 

 from the Philippines, while in 1912, 255 tons* were exported from 

 Ceylon, valued at > 9, 140. There is a steady demand for the product 

 which has considerably advanced in price during the last few years, 

 and now stands at about 6d. to 9d. per Ib. according to grade. The 

 tree is readily propagated from seed or cuttings, and thrives from 

 sea-bvel up to about 2,000 feet. It attains a height of about 30 to 

 50 feet or more, and may be planted about 18 feet apart each way. 

 Planted along roadsides or as wind-belts, the trees may be used as 

 supports for Pepper vines. 



Yield. The trees begin to yield about the fifth year from 

 planting, and may be expected to yield 3 to 4 Ib. of lint when 6 to 

 7 years old, increasing later to 7 to 8 Ib. A good tree at maturity 

 should produce 1,000 to 1,500 fruits a year. On an average 100 

 fruits should contain about a pound of clean fibre. The weight of 

 the seed in a pod is about double that of the fibre. 



Red Cotton-Tree, " Katu-imbul" (Bombax malabaricnm. Malva- 

 ceae). A very large handsome tree, 80 to over 100 ft. high, com- 

 mon in the low-country of Ceylon, South India, etc. It is quite 

 deciduous for 3 or 4 months in the year (usually January to April), 

 the large scarlet fleshy flowers quickly following the shedding of 

 leaves, and the fruit is ripe in April. The woody pods, like those 

 of the Kapok, contain a quantity of white silky lint which, though 

 less valuable, is sometimes used for mixing with Kapok cotton. 

 (See Beautiful Flowering and Foliage Trees). 



Croton-Oil ; " Jayapala," S. This powerful purgative, used in 

 medicine, is extracted from the seed of Croton Tiglittin (Euphorbi- 

 aceae), a small tree or large shrub, native of India. The cultivation 



'Ceylon Customs Report. 



