1872.] Paper at the International Exhibition. 471 
tried. Cotton in its raw state requires far less preparation 
than a strong hempen fabric, and thus, to meet the require- 
ments of the paper-maker, rags are classed under different 
denominations, as, for instance, Funes, Seconds, Thirds 
(composed of fustians, corduroy, and similar fabrics), and 
Stamps on Prints, as they are termed by the paper-maker, 
which are coloured rags, distinguished by certain well-known 
marks, indicating their various peculiarities. Samples of 
these may all be seen in cases exhibited by Messrs. John 
Dickinson and Co., and Messrs. T. H. Saunders, together 
with specimens of the different chemicals used in paper 
manufacture, and of the various colouring matters employed. 
The first process necessary is to examine the rags, open 
all seams, remove dirt, pins, needles, buttons, &c., which 
would be liable to injure the machinery or to damage the 
paper. Therags are then cut in small pieces, mostly by 
hand, and sorted according to their quality. A machine for 
cutting rags, jute, hemp, &c., is exhibited by Messrs. 
B. Donkin and Co., and when this is used, sorting the rags 
necessarily precedes the operation of cutting. 
After cutting the rags are removed to a dusting machine, 
in which all the dust and dirt contained in them is knocked 
out. They are then boiled in an alkaline ley or solution, 
made more or less strong as the rags are more or less 
coloured, the object being to get rid of the remaining dirt 
and some of the colouring matter. The mode of performing 
this is by placing the rags in large cylinders, which are 
constantly, though slowly, revolving, thus causing the rags 
to be as frequently turned over, and into which a jet of 
steam is cast. A large spherical boiler used for this purpose 
is shown by Messrs. B. Donkin and Co. The rags now 
pass into the comminuting machine, in which they are 
ground into pulp, and afterwards the mass is condué¢ted into 
another engine, where, if necessary, it is bleached by an 
admixture of chloride of lime. The pulp is then let down 
into large cisterns to steep, prior to being reduced to a 
suitable consistency by a heating engine, after which it is 
conducted to the paper-making machine, as has been already 
described. : 
Before passing on to notice various uses to which paper is/ 
applied, a short space may be advantageously devoted ea 
giving an account of some special manufactures. For t 
purpose we shall confine ourselves to a few only of ihe 
most interesting. f 
The well-known rice-paper of the Chinese is obthined 
from the pith of the Avalia papyrifera, a plant allied to the 
