Silk Cottons.

The seed pod of various genera of plants supply a material which, from its appearance, is called "silk cotton." It is deficient in strength, and difficult to spin, on account of the smoothness of the individual fibres.

There are two species of Calotropis—one the Mûdar (Calotropis gigantea), the other the Ak (C. Hamiltonii), which produce this floss in great abundance. One or other of these grow luxuriantly in all parts of the country; and should the material, as now expected, prove of commercial value, it could be furnished at a cheap rate in large quantities. Hitherto its chief use has been for stuffing pillows.