[141 ] 



XYI.— CONCLUDING NOTE ON THE MANUFACTURE OF 

 PAPER FROM MOLINIA CCERULEA, by W. SMITH, 



C.E. 



[Read, March 21st, 1881.] 



In November last, I brought under the notice of this Society a 

 new raw material suited for the manufacture of paper, commonly- 

 known as MeHc grass. I then mentioned that two trials were 

 being carried out; both have been completed. One — that 

 made in Scotland has not been a success, as unfortunately, as 

 sometimes happens when treating new materials on a working 

 scale, too much or too little of whatever chemicals have to be 

 employed is used. In this case, I believe, too much caustic soda 

 was used in treating the grass ; and still more unfortunately, all 

 the supply was used up in one trial, thus preventing the possi- 

 bility of correcting any mistake. The second trial, made in 

 Dublin, has been, I may say, a perfect success, and confirms the 

 former favourable opinion of this new raw material. The prepara- 

 tion of Melic grass for the purpose of being made into paper is 

 similar to that of Esparto. Both should be carefully picked, to 

 free them from foreign substances, such as twigs, leaves, &c. ; 

 they are then boiled in a sohition of caustic soda, for the pui-pose 

 of removing the silica, resin, oils, and facilitating the separation 

 of the fibre; and if white paper is to be made the material 

 having been washed, is bleached. 



Mr. Richardson, to whom the merit of discovering the useful 

 nature of this grass is due, has had several analysis made. Nos. 1 

 and 2 by Dr. Cameron, and Nos. 3 to 8 by the late Mr. W. Arnott, 

 of Edinburgh, well known as an expert in the chemistry of paper- 

 making. 



Analysis No. 1. 



100-00 

 Silica in ash, 0*55. 



Percentage of fibre calculated to dry grass, 43-91. 

 SciEN. Pboc, K.D.S, Vol, m., Pt. hi. M 



