184 



THE COCO-NUT 



CHAP. 



Of the fibres which have been incorporated in the 

 table — and it represents the most of the important 

 commercial fibres which are extracted from the tissues of 

 plants — the coir has the shortest individual cells. 



The strands which are extracted from the husk of the 

 coco-nuts and which are referred to in common speech 

 as the fibres are 30 cm. more or less in length, depend- 

 ing of course on the size of the nut from which they 

 are taken. The diameter is about 0*3 mm. In cross 

 section, they are roundish or somewhat heart-shaped, 

 the concavity or groove along one side being the place 

 where the vessels were located. The strands are harsh and 

 more or less dark in colour according to the nuts from 

 which they were secured and the method by which the 

 fibre was extracted. The fibre is strongly lignified, and 

 to this is due its colour and harshness, and its relative 

 brittleness as compared with pure cellulose fibres. 



From what has been said as to the qualities of the 

 coir, it follows that for ropes it is to be recommended 

 where elasticity or resistance to decay are especially 

 desired ; but for general use it is an inferior cordage 

 material because the brittleness of the strand makes it 

 wear out more rapidly than many other kinds of rope, 

 and because it is weaker than the best rope material. 

 As a textile fibre it is of' very little general value 

 because of its coarseness, harshness, brittleness and 

 colour. The colour can be removed, at least in very 

 large part, by chemical bleaching, but this treatment 

 leaves it too weak for practical use. On the other 

 hand, the qualities of harshness and stiffness and dark 

 colour all make it an especially good material for door- 

 mats and hall-mats and for various kinds of brushes. 

 It is for these uses that the coir has its chief market 

 value. This combination of stiffness and elasticity also 

 gives it a certain value as a stuffing fibre, and the poorer 

 qualities of coir are marketed, under the name of 

 mattress fibre, for such use. 



The market value of coir, as compared with other 

 vegetable fibres, is indicated by the following table, 



