The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-08-28
VEGETABLE IVORY.
Tho Source and Uso OF a Quoer-Looklng
Tropical Nut.


Tropical Nut.
On tho Atlantic docks in Brooklyn
few days ago, a reporter of the New
York Evening Post picked up queer
looking nut. In size it might be COM
pared with walnut, though it was
somewhat larger; but in shape it was
very different, being not round, but fat
on several sides. 1t differed also from
the walnut in the surface of it's she'll,
which resembled tho chestnut's in color,
but not so smooth; and it differed still
more in the substance of its shell, which
offered only = moderate resistance to
the point of a penknife. The moment,
however, that tho shell was penetrated,
a resistance was encountered which was
by no means moderate. "'ho nut inside
was solid white substance, almost as
hard as marble.
Ascertaining that this was specimen
Of the ivory nuts, which arc articles Of
commerce, tho reporter visited the CHIEF
local dealer in them-and asked some,
questions about their nature and uses.
Tho dealer said: "Whilo ivory nut is
the. name used in this country, the
Spanish namo is 'tagua,' and in England
and Germany the nut is known as tho
'corossos nut'-which it is not, the
corossos nut being something entirely
different. Tho nut without it's shell is
here also called vegetable ivory 1t
is one Of the uEcultivatcd products
iof 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 inn
nense groves along tho banks Of the
larger streams, preferring low, marshy
soil, but not disdaining tho higher
ground. What is called tho female tree
yields a perfunod blossom, and, like
the cocoanut tree, bears buds and bios
SONS at tho same time that the ripened
nuts arc dropping to tho ground: The
smalc treo' also blossoms, but it's flowers
hover turn to fruit. Tho nuts grow in
thick clusters close to tho trunk of tho
tree. They are gathered by tho natives,
who carry them in canoes or on thcir
backs in baskets from the groves to tho
towns and villages along tho rivers,
where they sell thc2l for nero triflo.
The traffic in the United States of CO.
lombia is chiefly on tho Magdalcna river,
and in Ecuador along various streams.
The nuts arc collected at the villages
by small, fat-bottomed steamers, burn
ing wood for fuel, and drawing only four
and half fcct of water when loaded.
These carry tho nuts principally to
Aspinwall, whcnco they arc shipped in
coh0ororc 1uI NV or of ~
Atlas line to tho various importing
places. The schooncrs arc rarely loaded
with ivory nuts alone, but receive about
half their cargo in cocoanuts, which arc
invariably put on top Of the ivory nuts;
| tho latter would broal. tHc cocoanuts if
| their positions wcro reversed, while tho
cocoanut;; could as easily break y pile OF
cannon balls.
''Hamburg, Germany, is the largest
market for ivory nuts. Now York comes
next, ;s:l;l is tho cnly pert il this coun-
tr.;; to which they a@c shipped. San
Francisco tried the trade but had to
give it ~. London is third, though not
| many years ago it was second. think
that perhaps fashion has had something
to do with it in sotting its face against
articles made from tho ivory nut.
"Thoso articles arc principally but
| tons, and for e common or medium
grade button thcro is no better material
at tho factories boys called 'sAuckcrs
arc employed to knock oif the shells O.
tho nuts. Tho ivory is then taken BY
sawyers and 'slabbed,' that is, cut will
tino saws into disks. After being assort
| ~ %I> 1o1> -
to dry thoroughly. At first they art
blush white; when dried they lose som.
| of their bulk and turn dead white. Next
girls put them into turning g-machines
by which they arc converted into various
button shapes. Dyers then take then
and turn them out of their vats in fou
or five sets of colors. TO others mot
tied appearance is impaired with brushes
They arc also made to initiate very close
ly tortoise-shells, black cloths, especial
ly black silk, and Scotch goods. I dar
say you have often had ivory
nut buttons on your clothing, AM
thought they were bono or cloth-covered
They wear and hold polish cxcellently
Such things as baby rattles, umbrella
heads, cane heads, and hooks and eyes
are also mado from ivory-nuts.
"The older the ivory gets, the harde
it becomes, and, if undyed, the whites
Its usefulness has become greatly re
stricted by the small size of tho nut
Experiments have long been unsuccesE
fully tried to mako tho ivory into block
of any size by reducing tho nuts to pow
der and then moulding tho mass te
gether by powerful machine pressure
If any ono could succeed in inventin
means to do this, it is safe to say for
une would await him. Vegetable ivor,
would then supcrsede cclluloid, whic
is affected by moisture and smells c
camphor, and is also much moro cxpcr
sive. Tho supply of ivory nuts is vas
At tho head of the Amazon river, not t
mention other parts of South America
thero are thousands of acres thickl
covered with nuts, which, left for year
untouched, are rotting away.
'1n the market hero eight grades ar
recognized, according to tho places fro1
which The nuts come. Tho Ecuador nut
| roDl- hiphoct and of thoco +boro y n