MECHANIS AND USEFUL ARTS. 83 



drained, and while still damp is subjected to the action of millstones, rolling 

 on a plane surface, or passed between a pair of rollers, in order to flatten the 

 straw. It is then forced between other rollers furnished with cutters, or other 

 suitable apparatus, whereby the straw may be formed into filaments or fibers, 

 as long and continuous as possible. In this state, that is, when reduced to 

 long and continuous filaments, the straw is to be exposed to the air and sun, 

 for the puqDOse of drying it, after which process the straw will have assumed 

 a pale yellow color. In cases where tune is no object, it is preferred to steep 

 the straw several times, and again expose it to the air and light. It will be 

 found convenient, in such cases, to steep the straw at night, and expose it to 

 the air during the day, to obtain the full benefit of the air and light. The first 

 described process of maceration is, however, the most important. By subject- 

 ing the straw to the action of water, and subsequently exposing it to the air 

 and light, it becomes bleached to a certain extent ; but by means of the pro- 

 cess described below, it is completely divested of all coloring matter, and is 

 rendered perfectly white. After having been submitted to the processes re- 

 ferred to, the straw is steeped for one or more days, according as it is in a 

 more or less filamentous state, in one or more of the preparations afterward 

 described, the filaments being first treated either with the alkaline solutions, 

 or by the solutions of hypochloride of potash or soda; and sometimes, for a 

 longer or shorter period, with the preparations of hypochloride of lime, until 

 the straw has acquired the requisite degree of whiteness. The filamentous 

 straw, after it has been submitted to the processes first described, and has 

 been steeped in the alkaline solutions of soda or potash, which take up a great 

 portion of its yellow coloring matter, assumes a darker tint, notwithstanding 

 its being washed in clean water. This darker that disappears, however, on the 

 straw being exposed to the open air and light ; and the process, if renewed, 

 causes the straw to become more and more white. By these processes the 

 straw becomes reduced to beautiful filaments, which may readily be converted 

 into pulp ; and from their solidity and strength, the filaments might even be 

 employed in the manufacture of yarns or fabrics similar to cotton and hemp. 

 Jute and many plants of Linnaeus' order, Triandria, in which are comprised 

 the various grasses, and many plants of the orders Tetrandria, Pentandria, 

 Hexandria, and Dicecia, when treated by the processes herein set forth, 

 lose their coloring principles, and become of a permanently bright white. 

 Hemp and flax may also be thus treated, and employed hi the manufacture 

 of paper. 



The solutions or preparations above referred to, consist, first, of a solution 

 of 8 Ibs. of carbonate of soda or of potash, in 20 gallons of water; second, a 

 solution of 6 Ibs. of bicarbonate of soda or potash, in 20 gallons of water; 

 third, a solution of 4 Ibs. of caustic potash or soda^ in 20 gallons of water ; fourth, 

 a solution of 10 Ibs. of hypochlorate of potash or of soda^ in 20 gallons of 

 water ; fifth, -a solution of 1 Ib. of hypochlorite of lime or bleaching powder, 

 in 20 gallons of water, to which may be added, in addition, if necessary, 1 

 Ib. of bleaching powder ; sixth, a solution of 6 Ibs. of bleaching powder, or 

 hypochloride of lime, in 20 gallons of water; seventh, a solution of 6 Ibs. of 

 bleaching-powder, and 2 Ibs. carbonate soda or potash, in 20 gallons of water 



