SILK-COTTON TREES, any one of the trees belonging to several tropical genera of the family Bombacacett, as Bombax, Ceiba, Erio dendron, Ochroma and Pachira. They are usually large trees, the greater number native to Central and South America, with handsome mallow-like flowers, light, soft wood and bark containing bast fibres used for cordage. Those species most entitled to the name are Bombax malabaricum of the East Indies, and Ceiba pentandra, of both the Oriental and American tropics. The latter, the silk-cotton tree of the West Indies, is one of the most abundant and largest trees of the Antillean forests, and is either low-branched or tall, with naked trunk and massive crown lifted high above the other trees. When young its trunk and branches are covered with sharp spines, which afterward dis appear. The bark is hard, clean and white, sur rounding a pulpy interior. The trunk is some times 100 feet high, and in well-grown speci mens is without branches for the lower part; but as the tree ages the trunk enlarges near the ground, being sometimes 12 feet in diameter and great buttresses, tall and thin, spring from it on all sides and run out in an undulating fashion, for perhaps more than 100 feet along the surface of the ground, before finally pene trating the soil and anchoring the tree. These braces are invaluable for bracing the tree against heavy winds. The leaves are glossy,
dark green and deciduous. The yellow flowers appear just before the leaves and are followed by great pods whose valves burst open when mature, causing the tree to seem smothered in glistening white thistle down. This is because the seeds are wholly invested in delicate cotton-like fibres, and being very light are carried off by the wind for long distances. Unfortunately, al though closely allied to the cotton plant (Gossypium) these fibres are too short to be woven into textiles, but they are employed for stuffing cushions and other upholstery, and are an important article of trade, under the name the principal source of supply being Java. The seeds are eaten in some Pacific is lands. Ochrotna lagopus is also called down tree, or cork-wood, on account of its light porous wood.
a substance prepared from the silky secretions of the caterpillars of the ordinary silkworm taken from the insects' body, and constituting the lustrous and strong line so well known to anglers under the name of It is especially sought after because it is invisible in the water. In securing the secretion the worm is placed in vinegar and the incipient cocoon is then taken from it, soaked in water, dried and bleached to a pure white by passing through fumes of sulphur.