236 



THE COCOANUT PALM. 



a stake or iron spike in tlie ground, and by striking the nut on the point 

 the fibre is easily stripped. The taunin which this substance contains 

 prevents the fibre from rotting. The fibre is rather difficult to twist, 

 but coir yarn is made into ropes, and forms the strongest, lightest, 

 and most elastic cables for ships. Before the husk is put into water 

 to steep it should be well beaten, for the purpose of loosening its 

 texture, principally that of the outer surface, which is hard and 

 compact, so that the water may penetrate it with more ease. It is 

 then left to steep for two or three days, and again beaten, until the 

 separation is accomplished. Care should be taken that the husk 

 is kept moist, because if allowed to become diy, the ligneous fecula 

 or spongy pulp, which is found intermixed with the fibre, adheres 

 still more strongly to it. In some islands and parts of the coast 

 where there are no running streams, holes are dug in the sand below 

 high-water mark, and the husk buried several days previous to being 

 beat. 



The separation of the husk is commonly done by tearing it off 

 with the hands, aided by an axe. A simple application of the foot- 

 power, used in the common turning-lathe or knife-grinding wheel, 

 would enable one man to do the work at present the task of several. 

 A double knife acting crosswise could be made to cut the nut and 

 husk in two, and so prepare it for the extraction of the substance. 

 Small, flat, pliant instruments would then easily extract the pulp 

 from the shell of the nut, and leave it fit for the oil press. 



About four days' maceration in fresh water is requisite. After this 

 the husk must be beaten till the fibres separate, when it should be 

 well washed, dried, and packed in pressed bales. For the purpose of 

 beating it out, an instrument in the form of bars, somewhat in the 

 form of a gi*idiron, should be used. It is obvious that this process 

 might also be advantageously performed by machinery. One person 

 can beat out with the hand, according to the age of the nut furnishing 

 the husk, from 7 lbs. to 14 lbs. per day, — say on an average 10 lbs., but 

 by the use of proper instruments his work might be increased fourfold. 



Value of the imports of cordage and twine into the United Kingdom 

 from Madras and Ceylon, chiefly coir : 



Year. 



Madras. 



Ceylon. 



Year. 



Madras. 



Ceylon. 





£ 



£ 





£ 



£ 



1866 



81,397 



67,418 



1871 



96,735 



48,419 



1867 



73,005 



60,100 



1872 



156,079 



76,542 



1868 



76,187 



67,929 



1873 



126,037 



70,288 



1869 



113,462 



64,126 



1874 



178,196 



63,560 



1870 



106,338 



52,263 



1875 



107,098 



59,594 



Machines. — The requisite machinery is simple in construction, and 

 is easily worked by ordinary labourers. The following are required 

 for the cleaning and preparation of the fibre, viz. : 



Tanks for soaking the shells or husks, for "roller mill." 



Koller mill for straightening the husks and preparing the fibre for 

 the " breaking-down " machine. This is made on the most approved 

 design, with fluted rollers, self-acting adjusting blocks, and screws, 



