266 Transactions.—GChemistry. 
4. The dark green colour produced by the addition of ferric chloride, and 
the subsequent change of this colour to a red or purplish red by the 
addition of an alkali. 
$ 2.—MINERAL MATTER OR ASH оғ THE LEAF OF Phormium tenaz. 
The amount of ash in the whole leaf of this plant was recorded in my last 
report.* The percentage of ash in the fresh plants corresponds to 1:59 per 
cent; in the dry plant it is no less that 5:56 percent. "There is, however, 
according to a recent determination made in my laboratory, rather a higher 
percentage of ash in the lower part of the leaf than in the whole leaf. A fair 
sample of the lower part of the leaves— from one-third to one-quarter of their 
total length—was prepared, and a careful burning gave, of ash, 6-91 per cent. 
Of this ash the most valuable, but not the most abundant, constituent is 
probably potash, An estimation of this substance in the ash prepared as above 
described, showed the presence of 19:45 per cent. of potassium oxide (K20), 
corresponding to 18:28 per cent. of potassium carbonate (КОО). It may be 
roughly calculated that 100105. of the fresh butts of the Phormium leaves 
would yield, on burning, an amount of ash containing at least one-third of a 
pound of pearl-ash. This fact may be of some utility in connection with the 
preparation of the leaf for the after processes by which the fibre is separated : 
the ash of the rejected parts of the leaves being applicable to the preparation 
of a lye, by which the valuable parts of the leaf could be partially cleansed. 
$ 3.—ExrERIMENTS WITH PREPARED FIBRE. 
Most of the experiments now to be detailed are connected with the oiling 
of the Phormium fibre. The samples used were submitted to certain tests so 
far as regards their hygroscopic condition, ash, and natural grease, with the 
following results :— 
Description of Fibre. Moisture, Ash, | О" — 
Volatile Oil, i 
А. Native—good ... ew 13°74 44 :29 
B. Machine dressed—good ... 13-32  .63 14 :29 43 
C. Machine dressed—ordinary 192-79 -51 38 26 "64 
D. Nichol's process o MMT 56 : 
In the following series of experiments, the samples called A, B, and C, in 
the above table were employed, 
Oiling Experiments, Series Т, 
Oil used, paraffin lubricating or machinery oil, having the specific gravity 
9243. The fibres used were in their ordinary condition as to hygroscopic 
moisture, They were thoroughly saturated with the oil, and then submitted 
to pressure and hammering to remove all excess of oil. The following numbers 
* App. to Journ. H. of R., 1871, G, No. 44., p. 12. 
