XXX APPENDIX. 



COTTON AND ITS SUBSTITUTES. 



The present dearth of cotton, and its ruinous consequences In the manufac- 

 turing districts, are subjects which naturally claim a large share of public 

 attention. While fresh sources of cotton supply are being sought, the desira- 

 bility of finding a substitute for it has not been overlooked . A patent has been 

 taken out by Mr. J. Hill Dickson for the treatment of new textile materials, so 

 as to render them applicable to all the purposes for which cotton is now em- 

 ployed. This is effected by machinery applied to the breaking and cleaning 

 of the fibre, making it perfectly fit for spinning on the ordinary machinery now 

 in operation at all the large mills. The chief material Avhich the inventor 

 proposes to substitute for cotton is the rheea fibre. The plant is found in 

 tropical countries, more especially in the East Indies, where it might be culti- 

 vated to an unlimited extent. Yesterday we had an opportunity of examining 

 some specimens of the new fibre in every stage of preparation, from th yarn 

 up to the more complete process of its manufacture into cloth. So far as can 

 be judged from the samples, Mr. Dickson's patent appeai-s to offer the ad- 

 vantages which he claims for it. Experiments have already been made by 

 several large manufacturers, and we understand the result has been highly 

 satisfactory as to the success of the new patent. Another advantage would be 

 the cultivation of the rheea fibre in our own colonies, where large tracts of 

 waste land might be brought into requisition and rendered productive. In 

 another column will be found a letter from the patentee, which is worthy of 

 perusal by all who take an interest in the subject of the cotton supply, and the 

 best means for meeting the present emergency. 



The rheea plant can be produced in Jamaica, and be had in 

 England in four months from the time it has been planted, and 

 will pay the producer 50 to 80 per cent, if he gets 2Jd. per Ib. 

 for it delivered in London ; and as " the government of Ceylon 

 is giving very liberal grants of land and in this it was actively 

 supported by the Home Secretary, the late Duke of Newcastle- 

 with a view to encourage cotton cultivation," the matter of 

 rheea culture is certain to meet with similar consideration, if its 

 real value as a substitute for cotton be brought out, as I now 

 have done it, by spinning it into No. 30 yarn on Throstle and 

 self-acting mules, at the cotton-spinning mills of Messrs. Birley, 

 Brothers, Preston, on the 22nd of August 1863. 



J. HILL DICKSON. 



