288 TlIK ISLACK WATTLl-: INDUSTRY. 



Extract. — For a few years the practicability of exporting- 

 wattle tannin as extract has been under consideration, but the 

 war may be considered the factor which has given the oppor- 

 tunity, and made this an accomplished fact dtiring- the present 

 year. 



The Natal Tanning Extract Company has its factory in 

 working order, and is busy making extract, having already 

 shipped some quantity in bulk, as a clear, dry, solid extract.. 

 packed in bags of about 90 lbs. weight, and containing about 65 

 per cent, tannin. 



Another factory is in course of erecti(~)n in Durl)an, and 

 expects soon to be in active operation, in which Bill)rough':? 

 process is to be in use, and public experimental crushings at 

 Motmt lulgecombe. May 4th, 191 5, showed to be also practical, 

 the machinery for this having been ordered in January, 1Q16. 



It is tmderstood that in 1)oth these factories it is mechanical 

 expression of tannin from the bark by pressure between heavy 

 bronze rollers, that is tised, hot water and tan liquor washes 

 being applied to the pressed bark between each set of rollers. 

 By these means, extract as satisfactory can be prodticed in a 

 few hours as was formcly done by months or years of leaching 

 under the slow^ diffusion or infusion process. So far, green 

 tark only has been treated, but it is held that dry bark can be 

 similarly treated, though taking longer time to get int(T a .soaked 

 condition which allows of ])ressure. 



It has always been held by the achocates of extract-produc- 

 ♦^ion that twigs and branches, which meatime are waste, can 

 be similarly treated, and that thereby the production of tannin 

 per acre can be increased. Whether or not that can be done 

 Vi^ith profit still remains to be ])roved, and will probably depend 

 largely on how far the factory is fn^m the plantation. Williams 

 has siiown (Bulletin No. '/2. \^)\^. p. 7) that there is only 6 to 

 7 ])er cent, tannin in dry twigs and lea\es, or 3,4 to 4.4 per 

 cent, in the green sam])les. It is not xct clear what is the capacity 

 of each factory, or if it will eventually be necessarv to have 

 factories every few miles along the railway lines, as hap[)ens 

 with sugar; but it is clear that a saleable article is being i)roduced 

 instead of one which formerly the I'ritish tanner was not keen 

 on using; and that whereas the bagged bark only yielded 

 a ton (2,240 lbs.) of tannin from 270 cubic feet shipment, the 

 extract yields a ton from aI)out 40 cubic feet, without having 

 more expensixe i)acking than the other. What the shi])ping com- 

 panies will do in regard to freights after the war. cannot be 

 guessed, but it is evident that such a difference in cubic meas- 

 urement means an immense saving. 



In regard to the use of extract in ( Ireat Britain, the .^.A. 

 Trade Commissioner (Mr. C. Chiapi)ini ) gave the following 

 interesting statement, showing for k^i i the import oi bark, of 

 extract and of other tanning, materials into the United Kingdom, 

 ;ind the re-ex])ort tjf these articles: — 



