Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-05-05
VEGETABLE IVORY.
The Source and Use OF q Ouoer-Looking
Tropical Nut.

AAO CoNESo ohu Ooc VI u NuOer-AOOhLhB
Tropical Nut.
On tho Atlantic docks in BROOKLYN
lew days ago, reporter of the New
York Evening Post picked up queer
looking nut. In size it might DO COM
pared with a walnut, though it was
somewhat larger; but in shape it was
very different, being not round, but fiat
on several sides. 1t differed also from
tho walnut in tho surface of it's shell,
which rescmblcd tho chestnut's in color,
but not so smooth; and it differed still
moro in the substance of it's shell, which
offered only moderate resistance to
the point of pcnknife. Tho moment,
however, that the shell was penetrated,
q resistance was encountered which was
by no means moderate. rho nut inside
was solid white substance, almost as
hard as marble.
Asccrtaining that this was specimen
of the ivory nuts, which arc articles of
commerce, tho reporter visited the chief
local dealer in them and asked somo
questions about their nature and uses.
The dealer said: "While ivory nut is
tho name used in this country, tho
Spanish namo is 'tagua,' and in England
and Germany the nut is known as tho
'corossoS nut-which it is not, tho
corossos nut being something entirely
different. The nut without it's shell is
here also called vegetable ivory 1t
is ono of the uncultivated products
of South America, and is import
ed chiefly from Ecuador and tho
= United States of Colombia. 1t grows
upon species of palm tree about four
teen feet high, which is found in i'm
mcnse groves along the banks of the
larger streams, prefcrring low, marshy
soil, but not disdaining the higher
ground. What is called the female tree
yields a perfumed blossom, anI, like
the cocoanut tree, bears buds and blos-
SONS at tho same time that the ripened
nuts are dropping to tho ground. Tho
'malc tree also blossoms, but it's flowers
never turn to fruit. Tho nuts grow in
thick clusters close to tho trunk of tho
tree. They arc gathered by tho natives,
who carry them in canoes or on their
backs in baskets from tho groves to tho
towns and villages along tho rivers,
where they sell them for q mere triho.
The traffic in tho United States of CO.
lombia is chiefly on the Magdalcna river,
and in Ecuador along various streams.
The nuts are collected at the villages
by small, flat-bottomed steamers, burn
ing wood for fuel, and drawing only four
and half feet of water when loaded
These carry the nuts principally to
Aspinwall, whence they are shipped in
schooners and by the steamers OF the
Atlas line to the various importing
places. The schooners are rarely loaded
with ivory nuts alono, but receive about
half their cargo in cocoanuts, which arc
invariably put on top of tho ivory nuts;
the latter would break tho cocoanuts if
their positions woro reversed, while tho
cocoanuts could as easily break pile of
cannon balls.
"lIamburg, Germany, is tho largest
market for ivory nuts. New York comes
next, and is tho only port in this coun-
try to which they arc shipped. San
Francisco tried tho trade but had to
givo it up. London is third, though not
many years ago IL was second. think
that perhaps fashion has had something
to do with it in setting it's face against
articles made from tho ivory nut.
"Thosc articles are principally but
tons, and for o common or medium
grade button there is no better material.
At tho factories boys called 'shucl1crs'
arc employed to knock off tho shells Of
tho nuts. Tho ivory is then taken by
sawyors and 'slabbed,' that is, cut with
tlno saws into disks. After being assort-
cd as - sizes tho slabs arc put in bins
to dry thoroughly. At first they arc
blush whito; when dried they lose somo
of their bulk and turn dcad-whitc. Next,
girls put thcm into turning-machincs
by which they arc converted into various
button shapes. Dycrs thcn tal1o Thorn
and turn thom out OF their vats in four
or five sct3 of colors Io others q mot
tied appearance iaimpartcd with brushes.
Thoy aro also made to initiate very clogc-
~ tortoiao-shClls, black cloths, especial
ly black silk, and Scotch goods. / dare
say you have often had ivorv-
nut buttons on your clothing, and
thought thcy wcro bono or cloth-covorod.
They wear and hold polish oXcollontly.