508 



PAPER PLANTS 



PAPER PLANTS 



Mauritius hemp (Furercm fcetida). AmaryUidaceoe. 

 Pig. 402. 

 This hemp is obtained from Mauritius and St. 

 Helena, where it is prepared for export. It is native 

 in Central America. The fiber of the iibrovascular 

 bundles of the leaves is used for small cordage, in 

 which form it is used as paper-making material. 

 The fibers are 1.3 to 3.7 mm. long and .015 to .024 

 mm. in diameter. Other agaves also yield a suitable 

 paper-making fiber. [See Fiber plants.] 



Fig. 730. Aspen {Populus tremuloides) , mucli used for paper. 



New Zealand hemp (Phormium tenax). Liliacex. 

 Fig. 401. 

 The fiber is obtained from the fibrovascular 

 bundles of the leaves of this plant. It is native in 

 New Zealand and Australasia, and is cultivated in 

 New Zealand, and, to a small extent, in southern 

 Jijurope. It is used in the form of old rope, twine 

 and yarn, and is suitable for making strong wrap- 

 ping papers, though it is but little used. The fibers 

 are soft and lustrous, 9 mm. long and .016 mm. in 

 diameter. [See Fiber plants.] 



Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera). Urti- 



caeece. Mitsumata (Edgeworthia Gardneri). 



Thymetceacem. Fig. 92. 



The inner or bast fibers of these plants are used 



in Japan for making paper. The fibers are 6 to 



20 mm. long and are soft and lustrous, and are 

 not broken or cut in making Japanese hand-made 

 paper. The fiber is prepared for paper-making by 

 scraping, soaking and beating, and in the unbroken 

 condition yields a paper of great tensile strength 

 and softness. By treatment with oils, adhesives and 

 colors, the Japanese make from these fibers papers 

 which in their strength and resistance are ready 

 substitutes for leather and cloth for some purposes. 

 These fibers mixed with others are also used in 

 Japan in making machine-made papers. Mitsumata 

 has been introduced into this country by the 

 United States Department of Agriculture. [See 

 page 72.] 



Pine {Finns species). Coniferm. Figs. 459, 462. 



Several varieties of pine are used in paper-mak- 

 ing. White pine (Finns Strobns), long-leaf yellow 

 pine (P. palustris), and grey pine {P. divaricata, 

 Fig. 462) are coming into use for the preparation 

 of pulp by the soda process. The fibers are .5 to 

 4.5 mm. long. 



Poplar (Populus grandidentata, P. tremubides). 

 Salicacece. Pig. 730. 

 This is the preferred wood for use in the soda 

 process and yields a soft, easily bleached white 

 pulp. The tree is native in southern Canada, west- 

 ward to the Mississippi river, and south to North 

 Carolina. The fibers are .45 to 1.2 mm. long, and 

 .017 to .035 mm. in diameter. The yield of paper 

 is about 52 per cent. Poplar wood is used chiefiy 

 in combination with sulfite and other good materials 

 in making lithograph, book, writing and blotting 

 papers. It is particularly suitable for giving an 

 open texture, soft handle and bulk, resembling 

 esparto in these qualities. Unbleached poplar is 

 used alone or with sulfite, hemp or jute for wrap- 

 ping and cable paper. 



Ramie (Boehmeria nivea). China grass. Urtieaeeoe. 

 Pig. 394. 

 The bast fibers of the inner bark of this plant 

 are used in the form of scutching refuse, spinning 

 waste and rags, and furnish an exceptionally strong 

 fiber suitable for the production of the highest 

 grade papers, such as bank notes, which are subject 

 to much wear and handling. The length of the 

 fiber is 80 to 150 mm. and the diameter .05 mm. 

 The plant is cultivated in China, Formosa and 

 Japan for textile purposes, and recently has 

 received a great deal of attention in India, Africa 

 and in the United States, where it can be grown 

 successfully as far north as Washington, D. C. 

 [See Fiber plants.] 



Rhea (Boehmeria tenaeissima). Urtieacem. 



This plant yields bast fibers somewhat like those 

 of ramie, and is suitable for the production of 

 strong papers for special purposes. The fiber is 

 stiffer than that of ramie, which is a drawback to 

 the use of the material. The fibers reach a length 

 of 220 mm. in some cases. It is used in the form 

 of scutching waste, spinning waste, and other 

 materials. [See Fiber plants.] 



