216 
to traverse. The baling of the dry fibre costs from 40 to 50 cents 
the bale of 150 kilos. It may be assumed that a set of 10 to 12 fibre 
machines properly installed and attended by men accustomed to the 
work will turn out on an average about 1,200 kilos (2,645 Ibs. avoir.) 
of dry fibre oo E. 
Difficulty is sometimes experienced in chains g pairs of right- ee 
and left-handed -> for ue machine. eee anded men are, as 
be expected, in exc As already show if is pees for aiey e 
SREDE to have a a T e E and t ada man to attend to each 
machin: 
Treatment of the Fibre. 
When the fibre first leaves the scraping machine it is covered with 
mucilage possessing corrosive properties which dries o n exposure to the 
air. The Soria ae — rsa if left on the fibre, is to turn it 
a yellow, and so ven a reddish colour. To prepare the 
fibre with a bright eae E the best plan is to place it, 
as soon as it leaves the “og ine (or as soon as it has been weighed, to 
check the amount produced by each man), in warm water of a tempera- 
ture of 60° to 80° Cent. “(140° to 176° Fah.), and leave it there for about 
two hours. It meee then be washed in two waters, and finally exposed 
to the sun to be 
treatment Secuintly employed consists in washing the fibre in cold 
water only. In the first washing soap is used at the rate of 2 to 3 per 
cent. of the wet fibre. After being thoroughly praen with soap the 
fibre is passed thro ma pure water until all the soap has disappeared, 
and By the 
then exposed to the s dried. By these means a beautifully white 
fibre is obtained. When thoroughly dried the fibre is afterwards scutched, 
to get rid of pith and dust. This process is usu ally i poke rmed by a 
repeated blows of = beaters, it is cleaned of all dust and impurities. 
_ It may be mentioned that, owing to the corrosive nature of the juice 
of the Aloe leaves, ‘the wo rkpeople are compelled to wear strong leather 
gloves. The gloves are fastened to the wrist by leather bands. As 
the gloves are provided by the proprietor, and they wear out very quickly, 
md constitute quite an appreciable item in the cost of working a fibre 
ory. 
(Signed) REGIS DE CHAZAL. 
ADDENDA. 
The upper half of the gratte is covered with-a semicircular wooden 
cover, to prevent the “pulpe” from being splashed about the place ; 
this “ pulpe,” which is othe ter falls on an inclined plane standing 
about 1 foot below the gratte, and upon which s slides into troughs, 
"here isa cor it is gradually removed — spread to 
made of the residue (“ pulpe ”), as it was found to burn the planta- 
tions when used as manure. Of late, however, it has been extensively 
