PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 221 



is used too now for an almost infinite variety of objects ; 

 paper collars are in constant use ; paper shirts, and even 

 paper waistcoats, bonnets, and hats ; and not very long 

 since a patent was taken out for the making of paper 

 coffins. 



Apropas of coffins a curious instance of an avoidance of 

 waste came to my notice not long since. The Americans 

 have, of late years, sent over great quantities of apples for 

 sale in this country. It was found that the casks in 

 which they were packed could not be sold and were 

 wasted. At last an enterprising American has hit upon 

 the device of having all his apple packing cases made up 

 as coffins ; these convey the fruit to this country, and, 

 having served this purpose, are very readily sold. 



Chemistry has taught us that the cellulose of all plants 

 is the same as that contained in rags, and that in fact the 

 fibre of some plants will give us a paper that cannot be 

 made from rags. 



An endless number of products have already been 

 pressed into the service ; and paper has been made out of 

 the most diverse and varied materials ; wood-shavings, 

 nettles, hop-vines, bindweed, Indian corn, hemp, fish, 

 beet-root, pulp, sea-weed, waste leather, and hosts of other 

 things have been used with more or less success ; but as 

 yet only thr^e or four new substances have been brought 

 largely into requisition, straw, esparto grass, wood pulp, 

 and the bamboo. 



Of esparto grass alone something Hke 150,000 tons are 

 annually imported as against 50 tons imported in the year 

 1856, and the useful employment of this hitherto waste 

 product of nature has added enormously to the wealth and 

 activity of many districts of Spain and Italy, and the 

 North Coast of Africa. 



There is a large French firm who have devoted their 

 attention to the collecting of grease for all possible 

 sources. They collect pickings and waste from the 

 O 



