554 FIBRES 



bundles. The gratteurs are paid at the rate of 60 to 

 80 cents per 100 kilograms of green fibre. They work 

 from four to six hours per day, and produce on the 

 average 200 to 250 kilograms of green fibre per man. 

 Two shifts per day work at each gratte when labour is 

 available. 



The green fibre, after having been tied in small 

 bundles, is weighed and taken by women to the washing 

 basins. It is thoroughly washed in clean water, and 

 afterwards placed in a basin containing a soap solution, 

 made by dissolving common soap in water at the rate of 

 5 to 10 kilograms of soap per 1,000 kilograms of green 

 fi'bre. The green fibre is allowed to soak in this solution 

 for thirty-six to forty-eight hours. The soap solution 

 helps to disintegrate the particles of pulp attached to the 

 fibre, and also helps to give a white colour to the fibre. 



The fibre is removed from this solution and washed in 

 clean water. Afterwards it is taken and suspended on 

 wooden rails in the open air for bleaching and drying in 

 the sun. The colour of the dry fibre depends largely on 

 the weather conditions prevailing at the time of bleach- 

 ing and drying. If the weather is sunny a white product 

 results, but if it is overcast and damp a yellowish-brown 

 fibre is often obtained. 



From the driers the fibre is taken to the brushing 

 machines, where the tow and attached particles of pulp 

 are removed. Stained parts of the fibre are cut out, and 

 it is then baled in sacking in bales of 200 to 250 kilo- 

 grams each with hand baling presses. The fibre is 

 graded according to the colour into " prime," " good," 

 and " fair " grades. 



These bales are then marked and sent to Port Louis. 

 The fibre is purchased by a local firm at current rates 

 and exported by them to London. 



Cost of Production. 



In the Annual Report of the President of the Chamber 

 of Agriculture for 1911 it is stated that the cost of pro- 

 duction per ton of dry fibre approximated 11 155. where 

 water is employed, and 14 where steam is used. The 



