114 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



sition which the fibre undergoes. This acid is probably crenic or some- 

 thing analogous, and as its combining proportion is enormously crc-it 

 compared with that of iron, a small amount of bass, therefore, proves 

 sufficient to saturate it. Under these circumstances, the fibre is as it were 

 artificially dyed with a fast color, bit in with an iron mordant ; and until 

 this difficulty is overcome, the bleaching of these materials is next to 

 impossible. 



The following are some of the recent improvements in relation to paper 

 making which have appeared during the past season. 



The following is an extract from the specification of a patent granted to 

 Messrs. Lavender & Lowe, of Baltimore, for preparing a material for 

 paper from the southern cane : 



We take the article called Reeds, in the Carolinas used for fishing poles, 

 and farther South and West called Cane, and by botanists called the 

 Arundinaria Macrosperma of Michaux. These are first passed through 

 rollers, so as to crush them flat, and cut into convenient lengths of three or 

 four feet, and then laid compactly in a suitable vessel we prefer a tub or 

 vat of yellow pine plank, because it is a wood not easily affected by acid. 

 Muriatic or sulphuric acid, of a strength of about eighteen degrees Baume, 

 diluted with an equal quantity in weight of water, is then poured upon 

 the cane, enough to cover it. Suffer the cane to remain in this position 

 until fully disintegrated, which is ascertained on trial, by the fibres easily 

 separating and being very tender. The time required for maceration is 

 two or three days. Then draw the acid off for future use ; then add 

 cream of lime, or any carbonated or caustic alkali, in quantity sufficient to 

 neutralize the acid absorbed by the cane, with water sufficient to cover it, 

 and let it remain in this alkaline solution ten or twelve hours. Let the 

 solution then be drawn off, and take the cane out carefully as it is tender, 

 and dry it in the most convenient mode. When thoroughly dry, the 

 fibres, though they separate from each other easily, yet retain their 

 original strength and tenacity. Pass the cane then through a brake simi- 

 lar to that used for breaking flax and hemp, and clean it, and it becomes 

 fit for use, and should be put up with the fibres laid out straight and reg- 

 ular, as Kentucky hemp is prepared for market, unless it is put up 

 expressly for paper making, in which ca?e it is unnecessary to use such 

 care in putting it up straight. 



Paper from Peat. ,T. Lallemand, of Besaneon, France, patentee. The 

 inventor first washes the peat thoroughly, to separate all the earthy from 

 the fibrous portions, and then places these latter in a strong caustic lye, 

 where they are suffered to soak for twenty-four hours. They are then 

 removed, and placed for about four hours in a bath of weak, hydro- 

 chloric acid, and kept constantly agitated. After this they are washed in 

 clear water, and then placed in a Aveak alum solution. After this they 

 are bleached with chlorine, and mixed with from five to ten per cent, of 

 rag pulp, and then go through the other common processes for making 

 paper. 



