Mechanical Extraction of Fibre 569 



afterwards combed and graded into three sub- 

 divisions, for length, colour, &c., then, put into 

 small bundles of about 6 oz. in weight, and 

 tied round with one, two or three bands, 

 according to the quality. They are now ready 

 for press packing. 



The remaining fibres that have passed 

 through the extracting machines are as 

 follows : 



(a) Combings (for spinning into weaving 

 or roping yarns). 



(b) Mattress fibre (for upholstery and 

 bedding purposes, &c.). 



After these fibres are dried, they are taken 

 to the " willowing " machine and subjected 

 to a " rotary process," and the extraneous 

 matter, such as dirt, shorts, hard bits, &c., 

 are allowed to silt through the " revolving 

 cage," making the fibre perfectly clean. If 

 the " combings " are not to be spun into 

 yarn, they are then press packed into bales 

 for shipment. The size of these bales, which 

 weigh about 2 cwt., runs about 3 ft. 6 in. by 

 1 8 in. by 18 in. 



A good machine for this or similar purposes is 

 the "Bijoli " Baling Press shown on p. 570, and 

 made for hand or power by Messrs. Shirtliff 

 Bros., of Hampton Hill, Middlesex, who 

 reckon it to be the speediest press on the 

 market, and therefore very suitable for estate 

 work, where one is often working against 

 time to catch a steamer and deliver promptly. 



