PAPER INDUSTRY. 401 



used in the scooping of the sheet in the proper way, a ribbed paper 

 is produced like the Tai-heishi or Gan-seki, which serves for the 

 movable partitions between different rooms. 



The wet sheets are piled up in layers on a mat — alternately 

 with old forms or mere bamboo splints. When dry enough they 

 are spread out on broad, smooth-planed boards with a soft, wide 

 brush, and these are placed slantwise in the sun against the houses. 

 As soon as entirely dry the sheets separate of themselves from 

 the board and show one smooth and one rough side, Omote and 

 Ura. 



The finished paper is brought to market either in its natural 

 condition, or cut and patterned. It is sold in Jo (books, quires), 

 and there are usually 50 or 48 sheets in a J6, according to the 

 kind. There are varieties, however, which have only 40 sheets to the 

 Jo, and in large sizes and thick paper often only 20 sheets.^ One 

 thousand sheets, or 20 Jo of 50 sheets each, make a Soku or ream, 

 also called Kami is-soku. 



Prominent Varieties of Japanese Bark Paper. 



All the varieties are characterized by a yellow colour of several 

 shades. They are classed by their other properties in two groups, 

 as has been already said, viz. Ki-gami and Nori-gami. In the first, 

 the root mucilage of Hibiscus Manihot is used as a glue, or the 

 bast mucilage of Hydrangea paniculata ; and in the other a paste 

 of rich starch, to which, in some cases, fine chalk, clay or alum is 

 added. The starch papers are closer, smoother, and heavier than 

 the pure bark papers. In tearing them a fine white dust may be 

 seen. Generally each bark variety is made by itself, the best 

 known mixtures being made of Broussonetia and Edgeworthia 

 bark. 



The paper which is made from Kodzo {Broussonetia papyriferdf 

 is by far the most general, as well the strongest, and has also 

 the greatest number of uses. Kodzo papers as a rule are lustreless, 

 do not crush under the hand, are the firmest and most porous, and 

 are made in the softest and most flexible varieties. The paper of 

 the white mulberry bark stands next to Broussonetia paper, but is 

 much inferior in evenness, fineness, and strength. 



Gampi {VVickstroemia) paper is made only in light, thin sheets. 

 It is known by its yellow colour, high silk-like lustre, and its great 

 uniformity. It crushes also under the hand. One hundred sheets 



^ Strange to say, the Japanese language has no word for " Bogen," or sheet. 

 It is reached only by circumlocution, e.g.^ kami ichi mai, ni mai, etc., i.e. paper 

 once, twice, etc. 



- The fine, evenly twisted cord, known universally in Japan by the name of 

 Midzu-hiki, and used for binding around presents, is made out of Kodzo-paper. 

 One side of it is coloured red after twisting. 



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