288 SUITABLE MATERIALS FOR PAPER-MAKING. 



to those ill Esparto, and Esparto will not make what is termed 

 a strong paper, but it does make a paper of a high quality.'.' 

 The samples were all made without the addition of any colouring 

 and show the material colour of the pulp. I believe one of the 

 grasses submitted to Bertrams was Andropogon Jiirfus L, a grass 

 common throughout the country and growing to a height of from 

 two to three feet. 



Andropogon nardus L. var. uiarginains, Hack, a rigid coarse 

 grass, growing in dense tufts to a height of five or six feet, com- 

 mon on patches adjoining the forest and on flat, damp hill-tops 

 and moist places. Stock do not eat this grass, but it is in much 

 demand as a thatch, and if properly used with last 20 years. As 

 its name implies, it is pleasantly scented. The lemon grass of 

 India is a species of Andropogon. ?\'Ir. Jas. Simpson, of Port 

 Elizabeth, a practical papermaker, has kindly prepared paper 

 from a sample of this grass, which he pronounced to be first of 

 a number of good samples prepared by him. The menu cards 

 used at the last Port Elizabeth Agricultural Show Dinner were 

 made from this grass. 



Cyperus textilis (common near rivers and wet localities 

 throughout the country) is capable of producing a very strong 

 paper, and would prove of great value for mixing with grass 

 pulp when an extra strong paper is required. 



Another species of Cyperus, C. hcxangularc is probablv 

 not inferior to the last-named species as a pulp-producing plant. 

 This species grows in less moist places and more in the open than 

 the C. textilis, but it is usually a close neighbour. Like the 

 former species, five or ten per cent, of this fibre will do much 

 to strengthen the grass pulp. 



Sansevieria thyrsiflora, a liliaceous plant fairly common as 

 an underbush throughout the Eastern Province, is capable of 

 producing a very fine paper, but it is of more value as a cordage 

 and will be dealt with under that heading. The Plantain pro- 

 duces a fine fibre suitable for the production of a strong paper. 

 The plant can be grown in many ])laces where the less hardy 

 Banana would not thrive. 



Fleurya pcduncnlaris, a precumbent Nettle common in 

 moist places, makes a fine paper, but it is not found in great 

 quantities. 



Agave americana has been introduced all over the country, 

 and there are large quantities now ready for use for producing 

 paper pulp. Mealie cob husks are of increasing value for paper- 

 making, and the centre of the cobs from which the mealies have 

 been separated, is used for the manufacture of celluloid and as a 

 material from which a kind of linoleum is prepared. 



With so much valuable material at hand it should not be 

 difficult to supply a mill with pulp for the production of wrap- 

 ping papers and a bleached paper for newspapers. 



Some suitable centre should be selected near the source of 

 supply, where pure water is plentiful and, if sufficient for motive 



