89-* 



old, were over 6 metres in height and 40 centimetres in girth at 

 30 centimetres from the ground (Philippine Agric. Review, Jan. 

 1908, p. 40). 



In Mysore the tree is grown from cuttings, as a support for the 

 betel vine in Areca plantations (Gamble, Man. Ind. Timb. 

 p. 92). The plants begin to bear fruit at the age of 2 years, and 

 at the age of 5 years each tree may give about 300 fruits, capable 

 of yielding 1'500 kilog. of Kapok. For a fully developed tree as 

 much as 5,000 fruits may be expected, each yielding 4-5 grammes 

 of cotton, or from 20-25 kilog. in all (De Wildeman, PI. Util. 

 Congo, Art. xxxiii. p. 566). Kliitgen (1. c.) gives the number of 

 fruits yielded by one tree yearly as 1,500, producing 22 per cent, 

 of pure Kapok, 29 per cent, of seeds, and 49 per cent, of waste. 



The pods ought to be gathered just as they are about to burst, 

 and, as with cotton, careful picking, drying, ginning and baling is 

 essential. The trees in Nigeria are somewhat scattered and 

 usually occur in association with other trees. It is possible, 

 therefore, that the collection of the bolls would be one of some 

 difficulty, and at times impossible in any quantity, much less on a 

 commercial scale. Under systematic cultivation, however, these 

 difficulties would be removed. 



Ginning is done largely by machinery, in Java, and to a certain 

 extent by hand. When baling it is not advisable to press so 

 tightly as in the case of cotton. Hydraulic or steam-press packing 

 is liable to damage the fibre, and to destroy its elasticity. A " Silk 

 Cotton Press," constructed by Stork & Co., has been found satis- 

 factory. A bale of Java Kapok weighs about 80 lb. ; Ceylon 200 lb., 

 and a bale of Indian about 400 lb. The lighter bales realise the 

 best price (Kew Bull. 1896, pp. 205 and 206). 



The Dutch East Indies have always been the chief source of 

 Kapok, the trade having commenced about 1877. Ceylon and 

 India have also contributed to the trade, although the Indian 

 product is more often that of Simul {Bombax malabaricum). 

 The exports from Java and Madura during 1904 amounted to 

 77,464 bales, in 1905 to 56,377 bales, and in 1906 to 47,678 bales ; 

 early and excessive rains were stated to be the cause in some 

 measure for the reduction in the 1906 crop (Dip. & Cons. Rep. 

 Ann. No. 3820, 1907, pp. 7 and 20). 



In 1896 Kapok was coming regularly into London to the extent 

 of 100 bales a month from India and Ceylon, the value then being 

 2\d. to 4a'. per lb. (Kew Bull. 1896, p. 207). 



The dock charges on Kapok are : for landing, in bales, press or 

 box packed, not exceeding 5 feet cube to the cwt., 4s. per ton ; 

 above 5 feet and not exceeding 12 feet, 6s. per ton ; exceeding 

 12 feet or in bags or mats, Is. Qd. per ton ; for reweighing, 

 repiling or rehousing, Is. 6<7., 2s. 66?., 3s. per ton ; for delivery to 

 land conveyance, 2s., 2s. 9r/., 6s, Gd. per ton ; for delivery to water 

 conveyance, 3s., 4s. 9c/., 5a. tie/, per ton ; rent, bd., 6<7., (ul. per ton 

 per week, respectively for the dimensions given above (Table of 

 Rates, &c., London & India Docks Co. 1904, p. 36). 



Re/.— Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind. iii. 1890, pp. 258-264.— Descr. Cat. 

 Useful Fib. PI. of the World, Dodge, U.S. Dept. of Agric. Fibre 



