PAPER FROM INDIAN CORN LEAVES. 109 



of Canada and New York, it has gained Mr. Tetu testimonials which do 

 honour to him as a useful citizen. 



The skin of this animal is of a tissue the exact character of which it 

 would be difficult to establish, when we have before us ten or twelve 

 samples of different kinds of leather made from the same skin ; in the 

 normal state, kid, sole leather, harness leather, velvet leather, plush leather, 

 black leather for foot gear, and varnished leather. The skins are dressed 

 for traces, and the Canadian mail bags are usually made of them. These 

 bags are very white, thick, and soft ; they stand much chafing and effectu- 

 ally resist the wet. Porpoise skins, when tanned, will compare favourably 

 with the best French kid in beauty, cheapness, and durability. For a light 

 shoe the leather is equal to Morocco or any other made. To those troubled 

 with eorns or gouty feet, it is found a great comfort, in comparison with the 

 stout cowhide mostly used. Tbe tanned and prepared skins, and boots, &c, 

 made from them may be seen in the collection of animal products in the 

 South Kensington Museum. 



The average price of a porpoise, considering the increasing value of its 

 skin and its oil, is 100 dols. Its weight is about 2,500 lbs. ; the largest attain 

 4,000 lbs., and are worth 180 dols. ; these are about 22 feet long and 15 in 

 circumference. The ear is so small that only connoisseurs can find it, and 

 the sense of hearing more acute than in any fish of the whale kind. 



PAPER FROM INDIAN CORN LEAVES. 



The following communication on a new kind of paper material is based 

 upon an article in the columns of the Breslauer Gewerbeblatt. On one or two 

 occasions we have drawn attention to this waste substance, as a useful paper 

 material, before the Society of Arts and elsewhere. The supply is very 

 large, and the chief use of the leaves, &c, hitherto has been for packing 

 purposes, for wrapping oranges, &c. When we consider the enormous 

 crops of maize in North America alone, the material, if husbanded, might 

 become profitable. 



Among the many endeavours that have been made, both in ancient and 

 modern times, to procure a fit substitute for paper, one at length has been 

 crowned with success. Recent experiments have proved Indian corn to 

 possess not only all the ordinary qualities necessary to make a good article, 

 but to be in many respects actually superior to rags, hitherto the only 

 material found to be really available for that purpose. The discovery to 

 which we allude is a complete success, and, indeed, may be expected to 

 exercise the greatest influence upon the price of paper within a very short 

 time. Indian corn, it is true, cannot be grown except in countries of a 

 certain degree of temperature — at least, not with the prolific result of 

 warmer climates ; yet the plant is of frequent occurrence all over the con- 



