136 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



the Broussonetia papyri/era slightly magnified. The fibres are white, 

 irregularly reticulate, with wide and narrow interspaces. 



Dr. Chisholm, speaking of the qualities of this plant for paper-making, 

 says : " The strength of this paper is due to the fact that in making 

 the pulp the large bast cells are not broken and torn as in European 

 pulping machines, but merely softened and separated by beating. In< 

 taking up the pulp in the mould, the cells are made to lie in one 

 direction, and the pulp may be strengthened by taking one or more 

 additional dips in which the cells are made to lie in other directions. 



Fig. 91. Bast tissues of the Paper Mulberry. 



Gums are used to make the cells of the pulp adhere. Thick papers are 

 made, capable of being used for many of the purposes of leather." 



The material obtained from this species of plant is also known as 

 Rice Paper or Tetroplanax. The plant belongs to a branch of the 

 Urticacece or Nettle family, and is a native of Japan. 



Papyrus (Papyrus antiquorum^ Lk., Cyperaceae). The soft cellular 

 tissue of this plant was at one time much used as a paper by the 

 Egyptians, under the name of papyrus. It was made in sheets by 

 pressure, and held in high repute for its durability. 



The plant grows in the calishes or swamps of the river Nile. The 

 stem is tall, growing to a height of ten feet from a horizontal, thick 

 rootstock. The leaves are ensiform, and of a greenish-brown colour. 



