30G 



ESSONITE 



manufactured at various other mills employing his process, in which esparto is used as 

 a blend with the ordinary rag material, tho results arc very satisfactory, demonstrating 

 that a now material lias at length been brought into use meeting this long-desired 

 requirement, both as regards quality and economy. 



One satisfactory feature in Mr. Routledge's process is tho fact that no material 

 alteration in existing machinery or appliances is required ; no higher pressure boiling 

 in expensive vessels is necessitated ; tho silica,, always more or less combined with a 

 coating of raw fibres, is got rid of, and the gummo-resinous matter neutralised, per- 

 mitting the fibres to be eliminated and drawn out by the ordinary pulping engine, as 

 now practised with rags. The assurance of a successful result appears to be dependent 

 on the proper adjustments of tho proportions of the chemicals employed ; this secured, 

 and the process is extremely simple, the issue appears to be reliable, and, what is of 

 no little importance, invariable and constant. 



The fibres produced from esparto are specifically lighter than those from any other 

 paper-making material in use ; their mechanical structure, moreover, admits of minute 

 subdivision, without destroying the feathery or mossy arrangement which facilitates 

 the intimate felting or blending of the ultimate fibres on the endless wire of tho 

 Fourdrinier machine; then, esparto paper, in consequence of this peculiarity, feels 

 thicker in tho hand, and takes a finer surface than that made from cotton rags, and, 

 in proportion to the blend or admixture with other rag or paper-making material, 

 imparts these advantageous characteristics. It is to be remarked, however, that its 

 introduction generally into the trade being only, comparatively speaking, of recent 

 date, it has not yet arrived at full development, its employment being hitherto limited 

 to common and ordinary printing papers and cartridges, and in the unbleached state 

 to brown and cap papers. 



Our Imports for the last jive years have been as follow : 



ESSENCE D'ORXENT, the name of a pearly-looking matter procured from the 

 blay or bleak, a fish of the genus Cyprinus. This substance, which is found princi- 

 pally at the base of tho scales, is used in the manufacture of artificial pearls. A 

 large quantity of the scales being scraped into water in a tub, is there rubbed 

 between the hands to separate the shining stuff, which subsides on repose. Tho 

 first water being decanted, more is added with agitation till tho essence is thoroughly 

 washed from all impurities, when the whole is thrown upon a sieve ; tho substanco 

 passes through, but the scales are retained. The water being decanted off, the essence 

 is procured in a viscid state, of a bluish-white colour, and a pearly aspect. Tho 

 intestines of the same fish are also covered with this beautiful glistening matter. 

 Several other fish yield it, but in smaller proportion. When well prepared, it presents 

 exactly the appearance and reflections of the real pearl, or tho finest mother-of-pearl ; 

 properties which are probably owing to tho interposition of somo portions of this 

 same substance between tho laminae of these shelly concretions. Its chemical nature 

 has not been investigated; it putrefies readily when kept moist, an accident which 

 may however bo counteracted by water of ammonia. See PEARLS. 



ESSENCE OP SPRUCE is prepare! by boiling the young tops of the Abie* 

 nigra, or black spruce, in water, and concentrating tho decoction by evaporation in a 

 water-bath. With a duty of 101. per cent, ad valorem imposed August 20, 1852 wo 

 received : 



in 1871. from all countries to the value of 107. only; and 

 1872, i, SU 



ESSENCES. >,,- I 'KIM TMI.KV. 



ESSENTXAXi OILS. Sri- <>ns I'IMD \NI> I >-i.xi i.u.. and OTTO. 



ESSOI7ZTE. A lime-alumina panic), of brownish-red colour, known also n< 

 ri/uifi/Hon-Ktone. It comes rliiHlv from Ceylon, and is cut a< a gem-stone, being indeed 

 sometimes mistaken for the hyacinth or jacynth. 



