328 THE PLANTAIN AND BANANA. 



Fermentation. This operation may be performed in several ways. If 

 the trees are allowed to ferment upon the spot after being cut, a great saving 

 will occur in respect of carriage ; this matter ought to be carefully studied, 

 because, on an extensive scale of manufacture, it is of serious importance. It 

 is found that the trees when cut and heaped up, are subject to a drainage of 

 juice, which, having a tanning property, discolors those pieces, which lie at the 

 bottom ; hence much time is consumed in afterwards restoring th<". fibre to its 

 natural color. The cut plants should be removed from the stumps of the trees, 

 and then placed in heaps, shaded from the sun by laying the leaves over them. 

 They will take several weeks to ferment. To pursue this process in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of the establishment, would give rise to many inconveniences, 

 in consequence of the very large space of ground that would thereby be occu- 

 pied. Fermentation requires a mean temperature. A tree cut down and 

 exposed to the sun, would be nearly dry at about 30 deg. centigrade, showing 

 a result quite different to that which ought to be obtained ; whilst a tree placed 

 on a wet soil, and open for the fresh air to circulate between the plants, 

 covered at the same time with its own leaves, and shaded by the foliage of the 

 plantation, would be decomposed at the desired point of about 22 degrees. The 

 different modes of fermentation require the same proportions. If the cut 

 plants be covered with a thick layer of earth, they will not decompose in six 

 months ; but if, on the contrary, they are covered slightly, so that they may 

 receive the freshness of the earth, an<l the heat of the air, they will decompose 

 in six weeks. It is the same with the fermentation of alkaline baths. Baths 

 at only one degree will produce decomposition, whilst baths at three degrees will 

 not produce any decomposition. The stuff after being passed through the mill, 

 or after fermentation, will be put into the chemical baths, or vats, or chemical 

 liquor, and the persons in charge of the mill and boilers will do this work. 

 Fermentation may be advantageously used, in cases where the trees are grown 

 at a distance from the establishment but, where they are in the immediate 

 vicinity of the works, it will be best to crush them by the mill. The princi- 

 pal saving that is occasioned bv fermentation, will be found in the carriage, as 

 the substance will be much reduced in weight by that process. In an estab- 

 lishment where the manufacture is carried on upon a very large scale, trees 

 cut down at a distance can be fermented, whilst those produced near the mill 

 can be crushed. 



Chemical Aqents. For decomposing the gluten in the trees during the 

 process of boiling, soda, carbonate of soda, and quick lime, are used. The 

 proportions herein given, are those requisite for making three tons of fibre per 

 day, upon which scale the cost price of the fibre in a prepared state for bleach- 

 ing, is subsequently calculated. To make three tons of fibre per day, it is 

 necessary to have four boilers of 800 gallons eat;h, and give five boilings in a 

 day, or 1,650 Ibs. of nett fibre for each boiler, or 6,600 Ibs. for the four boilers 

 per day. After having put into the boiler a sufficient quantity of water to 

 cover the material, wait until the water begins to boil, and then add the 

 chemical agents. 



Ibs. 



To the first boiling of a coppei-, put of soda ... 60 



To the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th boilings of the same copper, 15 Ibs., 



each making ....... 60 



120 



Therefore the four boilings will take of soda . . . 480 



The same liquid will serve for two other days, by adding 15 Ibs. to 



each fresh boiling, say, in the whole, 40 ibs., or . . . 600 



It will consume in soda for nine tons made in three days . . 1,080 



Or 360 Ibs. for three tons made in one day. 



On the fourth day commence ngaiu in the same manner, and go on for the two 

 remaining days as above, producing eighteen tons in the six days. The quick 

 lime is t.> bo employed in each of the boilings, in the proportion of one-third 

 less than the quantity of soda. Crude soda may be used in the boilings, 

 without previously discarbonising it, and quick limo reduced to lime water ; 



