196 



The Philippine Journal of Science 



1914 



further hackled by women, who comb them through long rows 

 of steel spikes, set upright at short intervals along a table 

 top. The fibers are now bunched in hanks approximating 30 

 centimeters in length with a diameter of from 4 to 6 centimeters. 

 These are then baled for shipment by hydraulic presses or 

 receive a preliminary bleaching with sulphur fumes. The bales 

 are sewn up in jute for better protection, and weigh from 

 100 to 125 kilograms each. This fiber is used in the manufacture 

 of brushes etc. The mattress fiber is spun into coir yarn from 

 which an excellent rope is made. It is also made into various 

 mats and coarse cloth. For the latter purpose, it is frequently 

 dyed brilliant reds, greens, and purples with aniline colors. 

 The weaving is done with primitive looms built on lines identical 

 with those used in weaving Philippine native cloth. There are 

 two principal grades of Ceylon coir yarn known as "Kogalla" 

 and "Colombo," which are further subdivided into from 15 

 to 24 standards differing slightly in thickness, color, twist, etc. 

 Mattress fiber and yarn for export are stoutly bound with 

 iron bands in bales weighing from 100 to 125 kilograms. The 

 demand for coir yarn exceeds the present supply, and the price ' 

 is steadily rising. Table XII shows the market prices of the 

 various products. 



Table XII. — Market price of fiber products in pesos per ton. 



Product. 



December, 

 1912. 



November. 

 1913. 



Bristle No. 1 



Bristle No. 2 



Mattress No. 1 



Mattrese No. 2 



Coir yarn Nos. 1 to 6, Kogalla. 

 Coir yarn Nos. 1 to 6, Colombo 



168.80 



119.60 



31.60 



22.80 



143.20-214.40 



129. 60-194. 80 



107-167 



26- 33 



154-220 

 140-206 



Exporters' usual prices range from 146 to 290 pesos per ton 

 (cost, insurance, freight). New York. 



It has been estimated that 1,000 coconut husks will produce 

 from 30 to 35 kilograms of bristle fiber besides about 140 

 kilograms of mattress fiber and yarn. Practically the entire 

 export of these products is to the United Kingdom and Germany. 

 The yearly imports of coir yarn into the United States and 

 the value of this product may be judged from Table XIII. 

 See also Table XIV. 



