I have only now further to remark that the "Plant" required to manufacture "Paper-Stock" from "Bamboo" on an economical and practical working scale, would consist of a battery of boiling pans, with the other necessary adjuncts and machinery, steam engines and steam boilers, such "Plant" being on a scale adequate to the manufacture of 100 tons "Bamboo" weekly, producing therefrom say 60 tons merchantable "Paper-Stock."
As the above scale of operations, viz. the Manufacture of 100 tons ("Bamboo") weekly into "Paper-Stock," may appear somewhat large, it is necessary I should explain that owing to the nature of the Process, the desired effect being produced by the reiterated and continuous action of repeated weak Alkaline Baths or Leys, in a Series of Vessels, such an operation involves the treatment of a large quantity of "Raw Material," at one time, and cannot either conveniently or economically be conducted upon a much smaller scale.
The cost of the "Plant" and Machinery required for such a Factory would amount to about ***, packed ready for shipment in England, to which would have to be added the carriage and cost of erection, with the necessary buildings, which, however, would be of a very simple and inexpensive character.
I do not feel myself competent to determine what quantity of Land would be required for a plantation to supply such a factory, which would absorb 100 tons dry, say 400 tons green, "Bamboo" stems weekly, but assuming 40 tons produce to the acre, with only once annual cropping, 500 acres should be ample. This calculation doubtless would be influenced by the varying conditions of climate and soil, as also by the variety of "Bamboo" cultivated.
It may be expected that I should in these "Remarks" include some reference to the "Variety" of "Bamboo" which could be most economically and profitably cultivated for the supply of such a Factory, on the scale I propose.
In respect to this portion of my subject I experience some difficulty, inasmuch as the Varieties of "Bamboo" are so numerous, and so widely distributed.
A Monograph by Colonel (now General) Munro, C.B., published in the 'Transactions of the Linnean Society,' affords the most elaborate and comprehensive description of the "Bamboo:" in this paper upwards of 170 species are described.
The "Bambusa Vulgaris," as its name indeed denotes, appears to be the most generally distributed, as it is found in both Hemispheres, General Munro being in considerable doubt as to which it is a native of.
I quote from his Monograph: "I have seen it collected by Wallich, in Silhet, by Hooker, in Chittagong (both North-east India), from Ceylon wild, in the Mauritius cultivated abundantly, in the West Indies naturalized, and cultivated in several parts of South America, this is the only thoroughly cosmopolitan species."
Bambusa "Gigantea," growing to the height of 120 feet and from 25 to 30 inches circumference; B. "Edulis," or edible Bamboo; B. "Arundinacea;" B. "Balcooa;" B. "Brandisii," &c., all varying in growth to from 60 to 70, to 120 feet high, abound throughout India, and all our Asiatic Dependencies. In the West Indies also, where not now indigenous, doubtless any variety selected could readily be introduced and cultivated.