116 Transactions, 



from the leaf, I think I shall be able to show that this can be done by a pro- 

 cess similar in effect to that by which the fibre before you has been obtained. 



You are doubtless aware that beneath the epidermis or outer covering of 

 the leaf we find a layer of cellular tissue, technically termed the parenchyma, 

 by which the fibrous tissue is surrounded. You are also probably aware 

 that the fibrous tissue may be separated from the cellular tissue by macer- 

 ation ; and, indeed, it is by this means that the fibre of the European flax is 

 usually separated from the bark of the plant which produces it. Of course 

 it is important that the fibre should be separated without injuring its 

 strength. K'ow, the method by which the fibre before you V\^as obtained was 

 as folloYv^s : — 



The leaves were boiled for two hours with a small quantity of washing 

 soda. After becoming cold they were bruised so as to break up the paren- 

 chymatous tissue, and render it easily sej)arable from the fibrous tissue. 

 When well bruised, the leaves were agitated in running water, until, as you 

 will observe, the whole of the epidermis and the greater part of the paren- 

 chyma were removed, leaving the fibre as you now see it. 



In order to carry out the same process on a large scale, we should require 

 to use machinery. 



In the first place, the leaves should either be boiled or subjected to the 

 action of steam in a close vessel. After boiHng, they should be loosely 

 twisted or plaited into an endless rope, some ten or twelve yards in length 

 and from three to four inches in diameter. Two coils of this rope should 

 then be passed between grooved horizontal rollers, eighteen inches long and 

 about fourteen inches in diameter, one above the other, the lower one moved 

 by machinery, and the upper one pressed on to the lower one by a sufiicient 

 weight to secure its contemporaneous but slower revolution, and also to 

 secure the effectual crushing of the parenchymatous tissue. About ten 

 feet below the rollers should be placed a trough, in which the loose part of 

 the rope should lie previous to its passing through the rollers, and through 

 which a stream of clear water should run. Every part of the crushed ropes 

 would thus lie in the trough for some time after passing through the rollers, 

 and the running water would gradually remove nearly every particle of the 

 epidermis and parenchyma, leaving nothing but the fibre in the condition in 

 which you novf see it. "When this process has been completed, the ropes 

 should be hung up to dry, and when dry be broken into lengths or packed 

 whole in bales, as the case might be. 



This process, as you will observe, is a very simple one, but still two 

 questions arise,— 



1. Is it economical ? 



2. Is the fibre injured by it ? 



