14 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



The fruit pods (natural size) of the ceiba tree; the floss surrounds the seeds as in the true 



cotton plant. 



Another product of this tree that is of considerable imijortauce is the silk-cotton, floss, 

 or kapok as it is called in the trade. It is a silky substance that is borne in the capsule or fruit 

 of the ceiba tree. These fruits or pods are from three to six or more inches in length and from 

 one to two inches in diameter in which the cotton surrounds the seed in a manner similar to 

 that of our cotton plant. It is a matted, soft mass of fine hairs, each of which is from one- 

 third of an inch to an inch long and from less than a thousandth to about onh^ five-hundredths 

 of an inch thick. It is so very light in weight that a cubic j-ard of it packed tight, weighs 

 only twenty pounds. The property that makes it so valuable is its extraordinary resistance 

 to heat. It is one of the best non-conductors known and is said to be "warmer" than wool 

 and six times lighter. An overcoat made of kapok is very light and j-et prevents the cold 

 from penetrating or the heat of the body from escaping. This is due to the fact that there is 

 not only a great mattress of air among the fibres, but also much air inside them. One writer 

 asserts that it makes ideal material for life-preserving mats, since in fre.sh water kapok can 



