bò 
The following report was made by Messrs. Ide and Christie on a 
sample of China grass Fibpons prepared by the Subra machine from 
green stems grown at Kew 
MESSRS. IDE AND EA to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
72, Mark Lane, E.C. 
SIR, 2nd October 1895. 
YOUR favour of the 29th instant, with the sample of China grass 
ribbons, is duly to hand. The latter appear to be fairly well done, but 
we notice many bits of the wood still adhering to them. This should 
not be, as it is a fatal objection with m 
We value them at 10/. to 12/. per ton, but would require a few tons 
for eas halioi before being able to say definitely whether in this state 
they would be preferable or otherwise to the ordinary cleaned China 
grass. 
ree. gS ys 
ned) IDE AND CHRISTIE. 
D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc. 
Faures Decorticator. 
The Faure machine, as already stated, has taken a new form since the 
Sro Pa of 1891. e improved machine was under trial at Ltmoges 
1897. In the construction, the inventor has aimed at the 
aiai in one operation, not of ribbons or strips, but of fibre ` free 
- ane woody matter, from skin, and with the least amount of ‘juice’ in 
He claims that the product i is equivalent to commercial “ China 
but in a more uniform condition, and free from the possibility 
of adulteration. The new Faure machine “is fed by two men, Pebbles 
“alternately, each holding in his hand about 10 stems. The stems are 
“treated green in the same condition as cut, with the leaves paar 
“two-thirds of their length they are withdrawn, an operation easily 
“carried out, and fed in a second time, the thick end first, so as to 
“complete the operation . . . e machine is simple in construction. 
“ Practical experience shows that two men working at one machine can 
“treat 360 pounds of fresh green stems per hour, or about 39 ewts, per 
“day of ten hours. The am eee of dry fibre produced sae ors on the 
“nature and growth of the stem On a 5 per cent. basis, the 
= “net ab as = dry fibre by ‘est machine ce day l 180 pounds 
ordinary circumstances, a pr oduction varying from 
3160 to 200 set of dry fibre in ten hours per machine may be 
“ expected.” 
This is the inventor’s own account of the capabilities of the machine. 
The first point that will occur to those acquainted with the numerous 
-efforts to ara the fibre by mechanical means is the necessity that 
still exists, even in this improved machine, to pass the stems twice into 
it. About two-thirds of the stem are first cleaned and withdrawn, they 
are then reversed, and fed in a second time to complete the operation. 
is practically Aana the capabilities of the machine almost by 
gp unr in the cleaning of Agave leaves (a probia o now iy u 
solved) has shown that the only effective way is for the ra terial to 
be presented once only to the machine and it should pase. apat 
without further handling. When this is the case a boy of 15 can do 
