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and in some districts of Eastern and Northern Bengal, and if 

 rhea can be grown in such places with only so much care as 

 is required in an ordinary well farmed field for a rather 

 superior crop, it is possible that it may succeed commercially. 

 Until however private enterprise has shown that the cultiva- 

 tion of the plant can be undertaken with profit in these or 

 other parts of the country, and that a real need has arisen 

 for an improved method of preparing the fibre in order to 

 stimulate its production, the Government of India think it 

 inadvisable to renew the offer, which it has now made for the 

 second time without result, of rewards for suitable machines." 



450. It is difficult to say whether the inventions lately 

 made of machinery for decorticating and degumming the rhea 

 fibre will really prove so valuable as they claim to be j but 

 from all accounts it seems there have been some very good 

 machines invented of late. The inventions which should be 

 prominently mentioned are those of M, Faure, Mr. Gomess, 

 also of Messrs. Macdonald, Boyle and Co. of 39, Victoria 

 Street, Westminster, London, S. W. and of Mr. Charles 

 J. Dear of 28, Victoria Street, Westminster. 



451. Messrs. Macdonald, Boyle & Co. recommend two sets 

 of decorticating battery, each set comprising of 40 drums for 

 a plantation of 400 acres. Their estimate is given below : 



Two batteries of decorticators including engine and 



boilers ... ... ... ... 1200 



One degumming plant including fittings ... ... 500 



Engine and boilers for Do. ... ... 400 



Soaking, chemical and water tanks ... ... 250 



Steam barrel, steam valves and fittings ... ... 15 



Steam purnp and appliances ... ... ... 100 



Belting ... ... ... 50 



Weighing and baling machinery ... ... 300 



Freight and sundries ... ... ... 185 



Total 3,000 



NN 



