70 
Supplement to the " Tropical AgricuUtirist." [July 2, 1900. 
ture of marine soaps. It does not make a good 
lubricant as it coutaiiis free acids. In addition 
to the other uses enumerated, it has been in 
considerable quantities in recent years for the 
manufacture of a butter substitute, known in 
commerce as coconut butter. [A sample of coconut 
butter can be seen at our ofRce. The latest 
developement in connection with coconut pro- 
duc?, is the manufacture of a substance — 
entirely by mechanical means — from the fresh 
coconut, and known as "Edible coconut oil.'" 
A correspondent from the Paris E.xliibition men- 
tions that Mr. G. G, Warr (who was for some time 
in Ceylon) is expected there with sample packets 
of the " edible oil " for distribution to the trade, 
with the help of Sir W. W. Mitchell of the Ceylou 
Court.— El). A-M.] 
Coconut oil has a very complex constitution. 
The following fatty acids have been found in it : — 
Laurie acid, Cj 2 Hj, O2 ; Myristic acid, C^^ H^s 
Oj ; acids having the composition C^^ li^^ O^; 
and Cj^2 i^2G 0 ; also Palmatic acid, C^g H.j^ 0^ ; 
and stearic acid, C^g 0._j. 
When coconut oil has solidified, which it does 
at the comparatively high temperature of 78° 1'"., 
it can be readily separated by pressure into a 
solid body, stearine, and a liquid called oleine. 
The former substance is used in the manufacture of 
candles, the latter, after being purified with sul- 
phuric acid, is used as a burning oil. 
A sample of ordinary coconut oil from the bazaar 
had a specific gravity -9207 at 85° F. (■29A° C.) 
A sample of Hultsdorf pure king coconut oil at 
the same temperature had a specific gravity of 
"9186. The specific gravity of coconut oil given 
by European writers is for the temperature 212''F. 
(100° C.) -868. 
CLASSIFICATION OF FIBRES. 
[De. Dodge.] 
D. Bbush Fibres. 
1. Brushes manufactured from prepared Fibre. 
a. For soft brushes (substitutes for animal 
bristles, such as Tampico). 
b. For hard brushes (ex. palmetto, palmyra, 
liitul, &c.) 
2. Brooms and Whisks. 
a. Grass-like fibres (broom root, broom corn, 
&c.) 
b, Bass fibres, also for coarse brushes and 
eweepers (monkey bass, piassaba, &c.). 
3. Very Coarse Brushes and Brooms. 
Materials used in street sweeping, &c. Usually 
twigs and splints. 
E. Plaiting and Rough WEAVI^'G Fibres. 
1, Used in articles for attire as Hats, 
Sandals, ^c. 
a. Straw plaits- From wheat, rye, barley, 
and rice straw (ex. the commercial Tuscan and 
Japanese braids). 
b. J'laits from split leaves, chiefly palms and 
allied forms of vegetation. (Ex. the celebrated 
I'anama hats, from the finely-divided leaves of 
(Jarludoviea palmata), 
c. Plaits from various materials used entire 
and without preparation. (Ex. basts and thin 
woods used in millinery trimmings, &c. Chinese 
sandals from rushes). 
2. Mats and Mattin(j ; also Thatch Materials. 
a. The commercial mattings from eastern 
countries. 
b. Sleeping mats and other forms of mats or 
matting. Screens, &c., made by natives for their 
own use. 
c. Thatch or other covering or protection from 
the elements, made of tree basts, palm leaves, 
grasses, &c. 
3. Basketry. 
a. Manufactures from woody fibre. (Commer- 
cial examples: Osier and si^lint baskets ; the same 
forms produced by Indians and including also 
manufactures from sumac and other twigs, roots 
of spruce, &c.) 
b. From the whole or split leaves or stems of 
endogens, or from any rigid fibrous maierial, 
including also the culms of grasses. (Chiefly 
Indian or native manufactures from Yucca leaves, 
palm leaves, reeds, grasses, &c., used individually 
or in combinations). 
4- Miscellaneous Manufactures. 
Willow ware in various forms, chair bottoms 
from splints, rushes, &c. 
F. Stuffing or Upholstehy. 
a. Wadding, batting, &c., usually, commer- 
cially prepared lint cotton. 
b. Feather substitutes. For filling cushions, 
pillows, &c., cotton ; seed hairs oi' silk cotton, 
such as kapok, Asclepias down, &c. ; tomentum 
from the surface of leaves, stems and leaf buds 
of plants ; other similar soft fibrous material. 
c. Mattress and furniture filling. The tow or 
waste of prepared fibre, unprepared bast; straw 
and grasses ; substitutes for curled hair, as 
Spanish moss, crin veg^tal.^ maize husks, &c. 
~. Caulking. 
a. Filling the seams in vessels, &c., oakum 
from various fibres. 
b. Filling the seams in casks, barrels, &c., 
leaves of reeds and giant grasses. 
0. Stiffening. 
In the manufacture of "staff" for building 
purposes, and as substitutes for cow's hair in 
piaster. New Zealand flax ; palmetto flbre. 
4. Packing. 
a. In bulk heads, &c. (as in armoured vessels). 
Ex. coir, cellulose of corn pith, &c. In machinery, 
as the valves of steam engines, various soft fibres. 
b. For protection, usually in tran.sportation ; 
various fibres and soft grasses; marine weeds, 
excelsior ; also stuffing and upholstei-y materials 
generally. 
G. Paper Materials. 
1, Textile Papers. 
a. The spinning fibres in the raw state. The 
secondary qualities, or the waste, from spinning 
mills, which may be used for paper stock, in- 
cluding tow, jute butts, Manilla rope, &c. 
b. Cotton or flax fibre that has already been 
spun and woven, but which as jags find use as a 
paper material, 
