266 Transactions. — Chemistry. 



4. The dark green colour produced by the addition of ferric chloride, and 

 the subsequent change of this colour to a red or purplish red by the 

 addition of an alkali. 



§ 2. — Mineral Matter or Ash of the Leaf of Phormium tenax. 



The amount of ash in the whole leaf of this plant was recorded in my last 

 report.* The percentage of ash in the fresh plants corresponds to 1-59 per 

 cent ; in the dry plant it is no less that 5-56 per cent. There is, however, 

 according to a recent determination made in my laboratory, rather a higher 

 percentage of ash in the lower part of the leaf than in the whole leaf. A fair 

 sample of the lower part of the leaves — from one-third to one-quarter of their 

 total length — was prepared, and a careful burning gave, of ash, 6 "91 per cent. 

 Of this ash the most valuable, but not the most abundant, constituent is 

 probably potash. An estimation of this substance in the ash prepared as above 

 described, showed the presence of 12"45 per cent, of potassium oxide (K2O), 

 corresponding to 18"28 per cent, of potassium carbonate (K2CO3). It may be 

 roughly calculated that lOOlbs. of the fresh butts of the Phoriniwm leaves 

 would yield, on burning, an amount of ash containing at least one-third of a 

 pound of pearl-ash. This fact may be of some utility in connection with the 

 preparation of the leaf for the after processes by which the fibre is separated ; 

 the ash of the rejected parts of the leaves being applicable to the preparation 

 of a lye, by which the valuable parts of the leaf could be partially cleansed. 



§ 3. — Experiments with Prepared Fibre. 



Most of the experiments now to be detailed are connected with the oiling 

 of the Phormium fibre. The samples used were submitted to certain tests so 

 far as regards their hygroscopic condition, ash, and natural grease, with the 

 following results : — 



Description of Fibre. 



A. Native — good ... 



B. Machine dressed — good ... 



C. Machine dressed — ordinary 



D. Nichol's process 



In the following series of experiments, the samples called A, B, and C, in 

 the above table were employed. 



Oiling Experiments, Series I. 



Oil used, pai'affin lubricating or machinery oil, having the specific gravity 



•9243. The fibres used were in their ordinary condition as to hygroscopic 



moisture. They were thoroughly saturated with the oil, and then submitted 



to pressure and hammering to remove all excess of oil. The following numbers 



* App. to Journ. H. of E., 1871, G. No. 4a., p. 12. 



Moisture. 



Ash. 



Percentages 



of 

 Volatile Oil. 



Fixed 

 Oil. 



Total OU. 



13-74 



•74 



•29 



•20 



•49 



13-32 



•63 



•14 



•29 



•43 



12-79 



•51 



•38 



•26 



•64 



14-17 



•70 



•56 



•36 



•92 



