The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-06-12
GROWS ON TRIES
SAMPLE OF COTCOE FROM PHIL
IPPINE ISLANDS
Hardly Suited for Spinning Think
Cotton Men Who Examined it in
Charleston.

The Charleston EveHing Post says
an interesting exhibit OF kapok or
tree cotton was received by John F.
Maybank Wednesday from the Phil
ippine Islands, with an accompanying
letter from the sender, Arthur l..
Byars, former cotton buyer, max
ing inquiries as to the market value
of the cotton in this country.
The exhibit attracted considerable
attention among the cotton people
who visited Mr.. Maybank's office.
The cotton is dark, creamy color,
very soft and silky, but without sta
pie, and in the opinion of the Char
lesion cotton people who examined
it, as of Mr.. Byars, it is hardly suit
ed for spinning.
The cotton has undoubtedly COM
mercial value, being admirably suit
ed in the opinion of those who looked
at the sample for the making Of pill
lows and mattresses, and Mr. May
bank will secure information along
this line, as requested by Mr. Byars,
forwarding it to his correspondent,
when he gets the information in
hand.
Mr.. ByarS writes interestingly Of
the cotton. He bought cotton for
inman & Company, being attached
to Mr.. Maybanks Office several sea-
sons ago, but later he moved 10 the
Philippines and was appointed a gov
ernment inspector of agriculture.
He became interested in the study
Of fibre plant, many specimens OF
which are to be found in the foreign
possessions and among the number
in kapok, or tree cotton. Mr.. Byars
is now engaged in testing the ef-
fciency of machinery for stripping
and cleaning the fibre, and inciden-
tally, he decided to write to his for
mer employer with view of as
certaining the commercial value OF
the cotton in this country.
In the Philippines, the cotton,
whose short and downy fibre keeps
it from packing, is largely used for
mattresses and pillows for which use,
Mr. Byars says that 1t IS unsurpass-
ed. The kapok tree grows twenty
meters high and seventy centimeters
In diameter, bearing from 500 to 500
pods year, the pods being about
the size, Of the average. small bana-
ma, three times the size Of the COM
monty seen cotton boil in this coun-
try, and holding about two hands
full of cotton. One hundred pods
produce about .3S4 Kilograms Of
fibre.
According to Mr.. Byars, the plant
grows very readily, branch of the
tree stuck into the ground in the
rainy season will take root and grow,
and in a year will be bearing cotton.
The readiness with which it grows
makes the cotton tree of general
use for poles and for fence purposes.
Mr. Byars states, and the agricul-
tural inspector thinks, that the tree
may be put to more profitable ac-
count.
One Of the pods was opened with
a pocket knife in MIR. Maybank' s
office, and \. was marvel to every
body to view the amount of cotton
which was removed. The seed is
about the size Of a buckshot, and are
readily removable from the lint. The
seed is not as brittle as that of the
American grown cotton.
AS stated, the cotton people who
viewed the exhibit think that the
tree cotton has considerable market
value, and will await with interest
The information which Mr.. Maybank
will secure for Mr.. Byars.
A sample Of the cotton may be
seen at the business Office Of The
Evening Post, having been furnished
by Mr.. Maybank.