10 
weight of 407 lbs., when a similar rope of cotton gave way with 
à dip en coir with 224 lbs. Iti is, however, quite incorrect to 
s ha n done by Wiesner (Rohst. anz. Reh. II. 
37 et Dodev and others, e this fibre is widely used in India. 
Although prepared to a small extent by certain persons for very 
A ecial eri ge the greatest possible difficulty was experienced 
n procuring the few pounds en by the Imperial Institute 
für the Erreicht just mention 
Mr. G. W. Strettell (New cin. of Revenue to India) advocates 
the value of this plant as a paper material. It may thus be 
Loin concluded that, were it stent possible to utilize the gutta 
an additional source of revenue, the fibre, either for textile 
pirposes or paper-making, might, in apts of all that has been said 
to the contrary, prove worthy of special consideration. (Zhe 
Agri. Ledger No. 2 of 1899). 
FLOSS. 
The coma of hairs or floss from the seeds constitutes one of the 
so-called vegetable silks or silk-cottons. This was chemically 
examined by Mr. Cross (see The Agri . Ledger No. 17 of 1897, p. 
fibre to be blown away. “Tt is, eg, a Soft, very white floss, 
wu s a beautiful silky gloss, has been repeatedly spun xp 
ea ge Aa and the textile produced much admired. 
Re a sample of the floss submitted to him i the 
dem Institute, i in 1897, Mr. C. E. Collyer observed that some 
years previously the floss had been in gens d for fancy textile 
purposes, but that it had dropped out of use owing to the diffi- 
culties arising from variation in the quality of the parcels sent and 
the intermitteney of the supply when requirements arose. He 
thought that the Er might be revived if a moderate but con- 
aran i i 
but the floss left in its natural condition, unopened and discoloured 
portions removed. N otwithstanding all this, no progress has been 
made in the utilization of the fibre. In India it is largely 
employed for stuffing quilts, its lightness being of great advantage, 
and in upholstery it holds a recognised position, since pillows and 
cushions stuffed with it are held to be very cool and refreshing. 
: is rar di to some extent, regularly spun and made into fishing 
ines an 
Such tig isall that can be said of the utilization of this floss 
at the present day. But there would appear to be little doubt that 
a few centuries ago this fibre was regularly spun and woven into 
some of the most beautiful textiles for which India was then 
fam a uman labour was of much less value than at the present 
time. Modern advances, coupled with the import of cheap Euro- 
pean gi ‚seem to have destroyed the old industry. It would 
appear fairy certain that the madar floss was the “ grass,” the 
“cloth of herbes," * herba," &c., of early European travellers and 
