794 MAIZE 



CHAP. States Department of Agriculture, it was found that the ma- 

 XVIL terial was quite satisfactory for the purpose ; in fact paper 

 made from maize husks is described as remarkably tough and 

 lacking the undesirable brittleness of common straw papers. 

 The leaves, stalks, and sheaths (" husks ") of the maize plant 

 have been extensively used in Southern Europe and the United 

 States for the manufacture of paper. According to Simmonds, 

 maize paper appears to be the least exceptionable of all papers 

 not made from rags. It is remarkably tough and devoid of 

 the silicious matter usually characteristic of straw papers, and 

 is considered particularly suitable for bank-note paper and for 

 envelopes. The coarser husks are used for the manufacture 

 of wrapping paper. 



The practical aspect of the problem depends on whether 

 suitable paper can be manufactured locally at the price of the im- 

 ported article, viz. about £16 I os. per ton. This, again, depends 

 largely on the cost of erection and maintenance of plant, and 

 cost of the necessary chemicals, most of which must be im- 

 ported. The problem is chiefly an economic and commercial 

 one, and the Imperial Institute advised that " a careful survey, 

 by a practical expert, of the local conditions and the cost of 

 manufacture would be necessary before a decision could be 

 arrived at ". 



The following information on the subject is contained in a 

 now rare publication by Mr. J. R. Dodge (i), and is given for 

 the benefit of readers interested in this subject : — 



The husks or spathes enclosing the ears of maize have been 

 used in various ways in many countries : — 



(i) As a fibre for yarns, for crash ; 



(2) For plaiting, like many of the reeds ; 



(3) For filling mattresses and for upholstery ; and lastly, 



(4) For making paper. 



There is a record of two maize-paper establishments existing 

 in Italy in the eighteenth century. 



" Economic Considerations. — The commercial industry be- 

 longs chiefly to Germany, Austria, and Hungary, though a 

 patent for maize-paper process was issued by the United 

 States in the beginning of the present century, to John Har- 

 kins, of New Jersey, in 1802 ; another was issued in 1838 to 



