OCR Text |
Show OIL FOR JAPANESE UMBRELLAS , 8sds of ths Rubber Plant Furnish , Material for Peculiar Outfit of the Island Empire. I The vegetable oil used In making paper umbrellas in Japan Is pressed out of tho seeds of tho rubber plant. I This oil Is made in tho various islands , famous for oil and seeds from these i plants. Sandy ground Is favored for the cultivation of the plant and tho oil is extracted from the seeds by presses. Tho yield of seeds Is estimated esti-mated at 20 bushels an acre. The annual production throughout Japan amounts to 350,000 bushels, from which over a gallon of oil a bushel is extracted. The oil before it is used bollod and then cooled until un-til It can be applied by hand to umbrellas um-brellas with a piece of doth or waste. No machinery or tools are used In applying ap-plying the oil. When tho oiling is completed com-pleted tho umbrellas nre exposed in f the sun for about five hours. This oil is also used In making the Japanese lanterns, artificial leather, printing ink, lacquer, varnishea, oil paper, and paints. Scientific American |