Noe 
9 
underneath the machine, and is re enoved from time to time. In the 
we of a number of machines working togéther, an endless nt or 
conveyer, passing under the machines, removes the refuse continua lly, 
and so keeps the neighbourhood of the machines perfectly free from it.” 
McDonald-Boyle Decorticator. 
This machine, also constructed on the plan of a revolving drum and 
beaters with a reversing process, has been carefully tried in Trinidad 
and Jamaica, and appears to be under trial at the present time in the 
Malay Penins px 
The results of the operations in Trinidad are given in the Proceedings 
of the Agricult ‘al Society (1897, pp. 149-153). The following is an 
extract 
x The “Me Donald machine the committee saw at work simply pro- 
ced ‘Ramie ribbons’ by breaking up and detaching the woody core 
ich it did far mor 
could be done by the cheapest hand labour, and the operation is so easy 
that the machine cannot get clogged or out of order, and feme = 
zm mepa The machine was under the disadvantage of being r 
stea gine not under proper control, but in ten minutes we ier 
it V TBEEEO 18 lbs. of stem, giving 24 lbs. of green fibre, which would 
equal 11b. of dry. Working ‘ander proper ‘conditions, we are of opinion 
he machine with one trained man would be able to treat about one ton 
of stems in 12 hours, irar one ewt. of ribbons, which is estimated to 
give 75 per cep or en of ‘ filasse ° or cleaned fibre, after undergoing 
the degumm 
proc 
he Boyle process ania the ribbons by treating them with corte 
bise and i inexpensive chemicals, and we saw the process carried o 
on a small — 
The res in Jamaica are published in the noe laa w Jamaica 
Agricultural Society (Vol. 1, 1897, pp. 271-272). ummary of 
e tests as follows : Weight of green stems per premi, the 
a ae 99 T 4 ozs.; time occupied in Tomas 81 minutes; 
weight of wet ribbons produced, 18 lbs. The Committee added, “ We 
“ think the whole process can only be operated. aer i on a large 
“ scale by the central factory system 
In a report issued by the Pontii Office (No. 2,139, Annual Series, 
1898) on the trade of Guatemala, Mr. Consul Trayner 
country who claims that, with a machine prepared locally, “the Ram 
“can not only be decorticated, but also — without ee 
“the fibre.” It is impossible to offer an opinion on the merits of this 
machine with our present information, but, if it realise the expectations 
of the inventor, we shall doubtless hear more about 
DEGUMMING. 
No machine can do more than decorticate the stems of China grass, 
and more or less clean the fibre. There is still the further task of con- 
verting this into filasse fit for manufacture. One intricate element in 
the problem is the dovetailing of the two processes, one mechanical, the 
other chemical. It was at first supposed that the degumming processes 
a Ta ia ie a minimum. Hence mere aA into ribbons 
