PHILIPPINE FIBERS AND FIBROUS SUBSTANCES. 237 



All other raw or waste materials used in the industry, such as straw, 

 grasses, rags, hemp, and jute, are almost invariably subjected to some 

 alkaline method of treatment. Practical evidence that these materials 

 are not amenable to the sulphite treatment is lacking. Theoretically, 

 both processes are applicable and should produce their respective classes 

 of fiber from the same fibrous vegetable material. 



It is well known that alkalies are more vigorous in their action upon 

 vegetable structures than acids, and, therefore, are probably better adapted 

 for those plants which are disintegrated with difficulty. It has always 

 been believed that highly mineralized vegetable substances, such as cereal 

 straws, would not lend themselves readily to the sulphite process. 



Bamboo is highly mineralized, and, like straw, possesses a very hard, 

 impervious siliceous coating. To my mind, an experimental study of the 

 degree of applicability of the present chemical processes of pulp man- 

 ufacture to a new raw material should consider the physical structure of 

 the plant in question as well as its chemical composition. 



One of the most common species of Philippine bamboos is a thin- walled 

 variety known locally as cam lojo, a small bamboo (Schizostacliyum 

 mucronatum Hack.).' It grows in rather ill-defined clumps of 20 to 50 

 stems each. The mature stems average at least 12 meters in height and 

 6 centimeters in diameter at the base. The stem walls vary from 4 to 6 

 millimeters in thickness throughout the- entire length, and the distance 

 between the joints or nodes averages about 80 centimeters, although this 

 is much shorter near the base of the stem. The nodes must be removed 

 for the sulphite process of treatment; for the soda process, I am inclined 

 to think that the entire stem may be crushed and chipped, subsequent 

 screening removing any uncooked portions. 



The sulphite process presents almost insurmountable difficulties in an 

 experimental way, although it is well under control in its practical ap- 

 plication. After numerous interruptions due to leaky digesters and a 

 water supply rendered unsuitable by heavy rains, I was able to produce 

 variable but controlled conditions of treatment, thus obtaining sufficient 

 data for the general conclusions which follow. These experiments were 

 conducted approximately under factory conditions of treatment and gave 

 data upon the following points : 



I. Method of preliminary preparation of the bamboo for the diges- 

 tion. 



II. The conditions of strength of liquor, duration and temperature 

 of treatment. 



III. Yield, bleach-consuming power, and cost of production. 



NATURE AND PRELIMINARY PREPARATION OF THE MATERIAL. 



The bamboo should be of uniform age and growth, that is, shoots of 

 one, two, three, and four years' growth should not be mixed indiscrimi- 

 nately. Bamboo of different ages can equally well be treated separately 



