The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-05-07
1916
The Carnauba Palm.

to look to It's future Importance. "A
law of the province specially pro-
tects the carnauba, by imposing a
fine of Is. cd. on anyone who de-
stroys tree without the permission
OF the proprietor. In the province
OF Rio Janeiro they have commenced
planting the carnauba palm, which
has succeeded we'll. This is useful
attempt, because, besides its cOmner-
'cial yield, it contributes to render
wholesome the locality where it
grows. The collection of the wax is
a very simple affair, When the
leaves comprising the network which
crowns the head OF the palm, sepa-
rate in the form Of a fan, they are
cut, taking care to leave the sheath
in the center, which forms the net
work Of the new shoot. 70 effect
this sickle or gardeners knife, is
attached to long handle of bamboo.
A native, well up to his work, can,
with this, cut thousands of leaves in
a day. AS the cutting continues for
six months, one would suppose that
the tree would soon be deprived of
it's fans, but this is not the case, for
the vegetation is so rapid that the
young shoots follow Immediately the
removal of the leaves, and the rest
OF six months given to the carnauba
is sufficient to repair the damage
from the pruning to which it has been
submitted. The leaves are dried on
the spot, extended in rows, the exte-
rior on the ground, SO that the wax
may not escape by the opening of
the angles of the fan. In about
four days they are collected or heaped
up, and cloth sufficiently large is
spread on the ground, around
which two or three. females place
themselves, aud taking the leaves
beat them with a stick, so that the
powder which is to become the vege-
table wax falls on the cloth. In or
der that the powder may be more
easily detached, a man splits the
leaves into strips by means of a sti-
letto. To obtain the wax, this pow
der is Immediately melted in clay or
iron pots, a few drops of water
being added. The melted wax Is
run INTO moulds of earth, by which
it is transformed into cakes, of about
four pounds; these, on cooling. how
ever, break into small pieces, owing
to the brittle property of the wax.
After the removal of their coating
the leaves are burnt, in default Of
any other means of utilizing them.
But, independent of the wax which
they furnish, the leaves might be APP
piled TO economic purposes. From
time immemorial the aborigines OF
Ceara have prepared, from the leaves,
fibre which they twist into twine
more or less fine, which is used for a
number of purposes, such as for ham,
mocks, cordage, fishing lines, etc.
This industry has made much prog
ress since the conquest of Brazil by
the Portuguese, but it still remains in
the hands OF the seml-civilized ma
tives. The leaves are reduced into
fibre without any previous macera-
ton, by first cutting them into
strips, and then passing them over a
rough card, consisting of points of
iron fixed into piece of wood. The
aboriglnes make theirs of the teeth
or bones Of fish. l have no precise
data upon which to form an estimate
of the value of the fibre thus en-
ployed, but it is in such general use
in the province that it must be con-
siderable. The Inhabitants of this
country, with but rare exceptions,
sleep in hammocks, and the cords by
which these are attached to posts or
trees are usually made of carnauba
fibre. II would be possible to form
an approximate estimate OF the yards
of cord employed for this purpose If
it were all made of this fibre. How
ever, [ may, without much error,
take the consumption of cords en-
ployed for this purpose at one mill
ion. If we calculate them at six
yards, we arrive at an annual con-
sumption Of six millions of yards,
supposing that the cords last but one
year. Besides this special use, the
cordageIs employed for great num-
Der of other uses: For securing the
loads which are carried on the backs
of beasts Of burden; for lashing the
bales of agricultural produce for ex-
port; for dragging i'll imported mer-
chandise; for halters and ties for an
finals; for nets, and a variety of
other purposes We may certainly
set down carnauba cordage at one