Indigenous Fibrous Plants. 207 



time to arrive at maturity, yielding; a small supply of material 

 in proportion to the area under plantation^ ever fully answer 

 our requirements in the way of fibrous substanees. 



As regjards the preparation of the mallow for use, Mr. Tol- 

 mcr thus describes his process : — '' The Hibiscus (erroneously 

 so calkul by him) may be pulled up by the roots, and hung up 

 in l)undlos to dry. When sufficiently dry, I cut them up in 

 a suitable macliine — an ordinary chalf-cutting machine will 

 answer the purpose. They are then to be boiled in a diluted 

 solution of caustic alkali, and afterwards bleached by chloride 

 of lime, or any of the well known processes. It is of importance 

 that the gummy matter should be extracted. The material 

 will now be in a fit state to be manufactured into paper, and I 

 would remark that the manufacture of paper will now be car- 

 ried on as if the paper were being made of rags. In using it 

 for otlicr purposes (oakum, rope, &c.), the system ordinarily 

 adopted Avill be apjilied." 



Respecting the Lcpidosperma gladiata, we are fimiished 

 with more positive information. A manufactiu'cr in England 

 who has tried its paper-making qualities, reports that there is 

 no doubt whatever of its making good paper, adding, Iioav- 

 ever, that the price, exact loss of weight, &c., can only be 

 determined by a continuous working of some quantity. As 

 the nearest calculation he could form from the experience of 

 one trial, he estimates the cost of chemicals to make one ton 

 of paper at .€3 10s., and fuel £\ 10s., English prices. He 

 further adds that half the rush is waste. Referring to the 

 exportation of the plant to England, supposing it not to be 

 divested of its gummy matter, he recommends it to be cut in 

 short lengths, half an inch or three or four inches long, in 

 order to its being packed closely for the purpose of diminish- 

 ing tlic freight ; or, in order to avoid the expense of bags or 

 canvas covers, he advises to cut, \2ij the flag, and bind it up 

 very closely in bundles or sheaves like Avlieat. 



As to manufacturing in the colonies, he states that the 

 supply of material and the power of the mill should be equal 

 to produce six tons of paper per week, as the same number of 

 hands Avould be necessary to make three as six tons, and the 

 cost of apparatus the same, without much ditt'erence in other 

 things. The estimated cost, in England, of delivering the 

 manufactured paper at market, embracing every expense, in- 

 cluding duty, making, carriage, fuel, and chemicals, dating 

 the calculation from the deposit of the raw material in the 

 mill, would be .£25 per ton of paper, the value of which would 



