CuuncH.—On the Chemistry of Phormium tenax. 267 
represent the final percentages of oil absorbed and retained by the several 
samples of Phormium fibre, two experiments being made in each case, and 
numerous weighings :— 
Absorption of Mineral Oil (Paraffin Oil ) by Fibres. 
Native— B. Machine— C. Machine— 
Good, : Ordinary. 
: ; 12:11 19:41 22°25 
Percentage of oil retained I 13:30 20-66 24-97 
Mean ues sey, Puit 20-03 23:61 
In order to see how far these numbers really represented the percentages 
of oil retained by the several samples, it was necessary to ascertain whether 
the absorption of oil had been accompanied by any loss of hygroscopic 
moisture. The samples used in this series were therefore reweighed and dried 
till constant in weight in vacuo over oil of vitriol. The loss of water they 
then suffered sufficiently proved that the absorption of the oil had driven out 
but little, if any, of the natural moisture of the fibres. 
A. Native— B. Machine— - С, Machine— 
Good. Good. i 5 
Percentage of water lost by 10:79 9-52 8-91 
oiled fibres in vacuo. 11:63 10-34 9-64 
Mean 21 9:93 9-30 
It thus appears that the fine native dressed fibre absorbs least oil and 
retains during such absorption the highest percentage of hygroscopic moisture. 
In order further to test the accuracy of the determinations of oil retained 
by the fibres, direct determinations by means of the “ether process” were 
made. The prepared and oiled samples which had been dried in vacuo 
contained the following amounts of oil in 100 parts :— 
A. Native— B. Machine— C. Machine— 
А Good. Ordinary. 
Percentage of oil retained 11:00 1714 20-88 
by the fibre, but removed | 11:54 18:91 90:26 
by ether T aie 
EE27 18:03 20-57 
š ean TAE e 
These numbers accord as closely as could be expected with those given in 
the first table, and show that the fine native dressed fibre retains the least oil 
amongst the samples tried. 
Ошту Experiments, Series IT. 
The oil used was the same as that of Series L, but the fibres were dried at 
100? centigrade (212? Fahrenheit) previous to their being soaked in the oil. 
It was thought that the removal of the hygroscopie moisture from the fibres 
would increase the quantity of oil absorbed, and render its penetration into 
the fibres more thorough. This anticipation was not realized, for less oil was 
absorbed under the single altered condition (of previous drying) of these 
