OTHER USES OF THE MAIZE CROP . 799 



" The corn-pith cellulose is employed as a packing material 

 in the coffer-dams in connection with the armour plating of 

 United States war vessels. The corn pith is suitably cleaned 

 and pressed into blocks, when it is ready to use. A cellulose 

 belt of three feet may be said to be as efficient as six inches of 

 best steel. Experiments have shown that there is no danger 

 of the substance being washed out through shot holes by the 

 action of the sea, and it is considered better in many ways 

 than other substances, such as coco-nut fibre, which have also 

 been used. Coir fibre employed as packing has been ignited, 

 while corn pith has proved incombustible. A special advan- 

 tage results from its great absorption of water, whereby a 

 shot hole is soon filled up through the filling of the corn-pith 

 packing.'' 



In some parts of the United States the prepared///// from 

 the maize stalk is said to be used in the manufacture of horse 

 collars and mattresses ; while in Florida it is said to be made 

 into many forms of "pottery," "delicately tinted in greens 

 and greys, which make exquisite decorative novelties for the 

 drawing-room" {Dodge, i). It is also said to be used in the 

 manufacture of box board at a much lower cost than that pre- 

 pared from rags or wood-pulp. 



767. Other Uses for Maize Husks. — In addition to its use 

 as a paper material (If 76 5 J, the thin papery husk surrounding 

 the maize ear is used in the United States as filling for mat- 

 tresses and pillows and for packing horse collars. In South 

 Africa and in the Northern United States maize husks are 

 twisted and plaited into artistic door-mats, which are very 

 durable ; good examples have been turned out by the 

 native schools in Natal, and in the Zoutpansberg District, 

 Northern Transvaal, under the direction of the Transvaal De- 

 partment of Education ; also by prisoners undergoing sentence 

 at the Central Prison, Pretoria, where the industry has been 

 wisely fostered by Mr. J. de Villiers Roos, Secretary of the 

 Law Department. Maize husks are also used in the Southern 

 United States, in Jamaica, and South Africa, in the manufacture 

 of light summer hats, both for women and men ; in Florida, 

 U.S.A., the husks, split into strips, are made into " chip hats," 

 and when properly trimmed are said to be both stylish and 

 pretty, and are sold in the Florida bazaars. The Moqui 



CHAP. 

 XVII. 



