October, 1912.] 



303 



KAPOK. 



With the exception of Java, where some regular plantations have been 

 laid out, kapok trees aie seldom seen growing together in any number. 

 In the Philippines (according to the Agricultural Review for August) 

 attempts are now being made to grow the tree on a large scale and in a 

 systematic manner. 



The export of kapok cotton from Java has risen from 1125 tons in 1889 

 to about 8,000 tons ; that from the Philippines was in 1905 only 4 tons and 

 has now risen to about 100 tons. 



Prom observations made by the Philippine Bureau of Agriculture, a 

 conservative estimate of the annual yield of cotton per tree may be placed 

 at from 1^ to 2J kilos for trees under 7 years, after which age the yield 

 increases to 3i kilos and more. From 300 to 500 pods is considered a fair 

 annual yield from one tree under 7 years, after which a yield of 1,000 pods 

 has been known, though this is much beyond the average. As the pods 

 vary in size it was found that the number required to produce a pound of 

 clean cotton varied from 60 to 120 and even more. Tfce weight of the seed 

 may be taken to be about double that of the fibre. 



The chief market for kapok is Amsterdam. Australia comes next as a 

 buyer. In Holland the fibre is sold under three grades : extra cleaned, good 

 cleaned (or piime Java,) and cleaned. The latest quotation forthefhst 

 grade is reported to be 50 cents (Dutch currency) per pound. 



The export from the Dutch East Indies in 1910 was 1,800 tons to the 

 United States, 2,370 tons to Australia, and 3,550 tons to Holland, 



Kapok is employed almost exclusively for stuffing cushions, for 

 upholstering generally and also for filling buoyant articles which formerly 

 required cork. Another suggested use for Kapok is as a filler for surgical 

 bandages, for which it posseses all the requisites : lightness, elasticity, 

 dryness and suitability lor dry sterilization. 



These facts will explain the rise in the price of the cotton from the 

 kapok tree of which planters should encourage the growth wherever 

 possible. It may here be mentioned that suitable machinery for cleaning 

 kapok has been installed by Messrs. Freudenberg & Co., (the local Agents 

 for the British Cotton Growing Association) at their Kotahena Mills. 



In the United States the price quoted varies from 14 to 18 cents 

 (American) per pound laid down in New York or St. Francisco. Kapok 

 enters the U, S. A. free of duty. 



SOCIETY MEETINGS. 



We invite the attention of members of the Ceylon Agricultural Society 

 to the change determined upon at the last Board Meeting. In future, 

 after the Board has concluded its business, all members of the Society will 

 be free to enter and listen to, and take part in the discussion following 

 upon, any paper or papers read. It is hoped that the members will show 

 their appreciation of the change by taking advantage of it. 



