268 Tra'nsactions. — Chemistry. 



experiments. The percentages of oil retained by dry fibre, after pressing and 

 hammering, as in Series I., were as follows ; — 



A. Native — B. JIachine — C. Machine — 



Good. Good. Ordinary. 



Percentage of .oil retained | g.g^ ^3.3^ ^^.g^ 



by fibres which had been V g.^g ^^.gg ^^.gg 



previously dried. ... j 



Mean 8-25 13-50 15-52 



Thus we learn that diy fibres absorb less oil than those which are naturally 

 moist ; and that the fine native fibre retains the same position as to the 

 percentage of oil which it held in the first series of experiments. From other 

 trials I conclude that drying the fibres previous to oiling or tarring them will 

 prevent the sufficient absorption of the liquid used, while submitting the fibres 

 to a moisture-laden atmosphere may prove beneficial, especially if they be 

 subsequently dried — that is, after the treatment with oil, etc. 



Oiling ExperiTnents, Series III. 

 The oil now used was a colza oil, of sp. gr. -910. The fibres used were 

 from the same samples as before ; the operations of pressing and hammering 

 were conducted in the same manner. The experiments, however, were not 

 very successful or uniform in their results ; and the infei-iority of a vegetable 

 oil for such purposes was shown by the appearance of the samples after 

 treatment. The following results are selected from a large number which 

 were obtained, but which I do not think would be of any service if introduced 

 into this report : — 



A. Native — B. Machine — C. Machine — 



Good Good. Ordinary. 



Percentage of oil (colza) ) , <, ^ i rr a tic 



J- • J I. • j-\;u r 13"6 17-0 14-6 



retained by moist fibres J 



Percentage of oil (colza) \ 



retained by dried fibres V 13-3 13-9 16-3 



dried at 100° c. ... J 



Oiling Experiments, Series IV. 

 An animal oil (sperm oil), having the sp. gr. -927, was used for these 

 experiments, which were in other respects conducted as before. As in Series III., 

 the previous drying of the fibres made but little difierence in the amount 

 of oil retained after pressure and hammering. However, the character of the 

 treated fibres showed a distinct superiority over those dressed with vegetable 

 oil. A few of the results are here given : — 



A. Native— B. Machine— C. Machine- 



Good. Good. Ordinary. 



Percentage of oil (sperm) ) ,f,.g ,0.^ -. 0.4 



retained by moist fibres j 



) 



Percentage of oil (sperm) \ 



retained by fibres dried \ 10-8 - 15-2 U-1 



at 100° c. 



