Treatment of Fibre-producing Plants.
From all, or nearly all, Endogenous plants the fibres are extracted by hand labour, no machinery having been hitherto invented by which this operation can be performed in an economical and satisfactory manner.
The fleshy stems, or leaves, of this class of plants are crushed and beaten, macerated in water, scraped and roughly combed, to separate the fibrous from the vascular, or pulpy portion of the plant; sometimes the plants are buried in wet sand, or mud, leaving them to soak, or rot, for many days, then beaten on a stone, scraped, and combed; but by this system the fibres generally lose colour and strength. The yield of fibre from this class of Endogens ranges from 6 to 12 per cent., and it is only where native labour is exceedingly cheap and abundant that such a laborious and tedious process could be carried on.
The majority of the fibres from Exogenous plants are also, in somewhat a similar manner obtained solely by manual labour; the herbaceous, or woody stems of such plants, being first steeped, or retted, to induce partial fermentation, and facilitate the separation of the corticular fibres, from the woody stem.
When produced in Europe, Flax and Hemp form an exception, being generally dried before steeping, which process is also more systematically and regularly conducted, and the subsequent separation of the ultimate fibres effected by breaking, scutching, and heckling; these operations being as far as possible carried out mechanically.
When the cost of cultivation, of carriage, freight to this country, charges and merchants' profit, are added to the outlay involved in producing clean fibres by the laborious and tedious processes described, even with the exceedingly cheap labour of tropical countries, it will readily be understood that they cannot be sold at a cheap rate.
When the above outlay has been incurred, and clean merchantable fibre results, such fibre will generally secure a high price in the market for Spinning, Roping, and other Textile purposes, far beyond the Paper-maker's limits, who therefore can only avail himself of damaged parcels, or such as, being of low or inferior quality, have been rejected by the "Spinner," and, even then, has to come into competition with the maker of low-class goods, the common "sacking and mat-maker," as any fibre of fair strength, long enough to spin into a coarse yarn, commands good value in the market.
It will be obvious from the preceding remarks that the Paper-manufacturer, for an extended supply of Material, must look to a fibre or fibrous substance which, either like "Esparto," can be utilized direct, without having to pass through this process of semi-manufacture, or to some other "New Material," which, from the peculiarity either of its production or growth, and to the simplicity and economy of its treatment, can be imported into this country, in a condition suitable for his requirements.
Knowing from personal observation the peculiarities of the growth, production, and collection of the "Esparto" plant, and believing the time would come when the supply would be unequal to the demand (although I must admit, owing to the rapid extension of the Paper-trade, that time has arrived sooner than I anticipated), I have long and continuously kept my attention directed to any "New Material" which appeared likely to become available for Paper-making purposes.
For many years past, I have devoted much time to the investigation of Fibres, during which period I have, I believe, tested both chemically and practically as a Paper-maker, nearly every fibrous material introduced into the market, with, as may naturally be supposed, extremely variable results.
Before any "New Material" will be favourably received by the Paper-manufacturer, it is clear that certain conditions must be fulfilled; these being that such "Material" shall favourably compare, so far as regards quality and cost, with those he now employs, and that he shall feel satisfied he may rely upon a continuity of supply, not subject to violent fluctuations in price.
Once assured on these points, there can be no doubt that, especially under existing circumstances (viz. deficient supply and high prices), the Paper-trade would gladly welcome the advent of any "New Material" calculated to relieve the present, or apprehended scarcity.