INDIAN JUTE 5 



It is, however, usually of a bad colour, varying from light 

 pink to a dull slate, and is only of medium strength. It is 

 always used as a mixture in Hessian and common weft yarns, 

 and sometimes also in small quantities in warp yarns, in order 

 to reduce their cost. 



The lowest class jute is Dowrah, which is dark or dull grey 

 in colour, with a slight tinge of green. The fibre is harsh, 

 dirty and brittle, and can only be used in a mixture for 

 sacking yarns, or mixed sparingly for heavy common wefts. 

 A peculiarity about Dowrah jute is that when put into yarn, 

 the harder the twist of the latter the weaker it becomes. 

 Consequently it is not at all suitable for warp yarn. 



The jute fibre trade of Calcutta is almost exclusively in the 

 hands of Europeans. The fibre is sorted and then pressed 

 into bales, of 400 Ib. each, for export. Each sort has its own 

 special mark, and in selling a lot, the shipper usually 

 guarantees a certain quantity of each sort, such as 5 per 

 cent, of first numbers, 50 per cent, of second numbers, and 

 45 per cent, of third numbers. Special qualities are sold 

 separately. 



The greatest defects found in the fibre, as imported into 

 Scotland, are heart and surface damage, and the presence of 

 roots and runners. Heart damage is caused by heating, in 

 the centre of the bale, owing to the fibre having been pressed 

 in a damp condition. 



Surface damage is done in transit by exterior dampness, 

 usually due to the ship's hold not being properly ventilated. 



Runners are fibre produced from stems of the plant which 

 have fallen down and grown along the ground, and are con- 

 sequently of very inferior quality. 



A coarse root end is a common defect, and if not removed, 

 reduces the spinning quality of the fibre very materially. 



A good deal of jute is now prepared in Calcutta by the 

 snipping process, instead of by cutting off the roots. The 

 snipping or knifing machine consists of a toothed cylinder, 



