Show t E I Milkweed Mi Yields Yield Fiber I According to Dr Boris Berkman milkweed produces two fibers A pioneer in milkweed development t Dr Berkman says one fiber is tubular tubular tubular lar with an air chamber It is 58 per cent alpha cellulose 20 per cent centI I lignin and is covered with a vegetable vege vege- vegetable vegetable table wax of a high melting point I r This fiber is found in the pod Known as floss the fiber is buoyant has a high insulation insulat insulation t tion value and promises to be valuable valuable valuable able for soundproofing material Dr i Berkman predicts its use in life pre pre- preservers prey pret y t servers life jackets aviator suits 1 combining insulation value for high w atmosphere with buoyancy in case of a landing in water sleeping bags mattresses pillows and surgical dressings The other fiber of the milkweed is found in the the outer layer of stalk r fY In different species of the plant it represents between 10 and 20 per percent percent cent in in weight of the entire stalk Known as Bast this fiber has a r great tensile strength and the high alpha cellulose content of 92 per percent cent Dr Berkman says that studies show sh v that Bast fiber ranks second i to manila hemp in breaking and tensile strength Running about three-fourths three of an inch in length the fiber is soft pliable and much finer in texture It has good possibilities possibilities possibilities for use as textile two Seventy-two per cent of the milk milk- milkweed milkweed milkweed weed found growing wild in Michi Michi- Michigan Michigan Michigan gan was on No 4 land Approximately 85 per cent of milk milk- milkweed milkweed milkweed weed seed germinates In experiments experiments experiments ments last year milkweed pickers earned from four to seven dollars a aday aday aday day and they included women and children The tall somber cattail that stands silently in the marshes today may soon be the base for a flourish flourish- flourishing flourishing flourishing ing industry In experiments con con- conducted conducted conducted ducted under the direction of C. C F. F Burgess noted chemist this lowly plant was found to have high heat insulating sound absorption and wa wa- water ter Resistant properties According to Mr Burgess the floss of the cattail can be produced at a acost acost acost cost competitive with cotton About man-hours man of labor abor are needed i A t y r From corncobs corncobs- corncobs chemicals to collect process spiKes a day These spikes yield 1500 pounds of cattail floss Location of plants close to the marshes where the plants abound would trim operating operating operating ing costs |