14 ALFA FIBRE FOK PAPER-MANUFACTURERS. 



any great distance, or to ship ; but when, by maceration, it is made into a 

 pulp, and greatly diminished in weight and bulk, so as to be conveniently 

 transportable, it is prohibited in France. The time is coming, however, 

 when France will be open without duties to all Algerian productions." 



Recent measures, taken by the Minister for Algeria, have greatly 

 modified the Customs regulations for the French colonies. All its natural 

 products, and a great many of its industrial and manufactured products, are 

 now freely admitted. 



The alfa in its wild state grows in a tuft or clump, of which only such 

 stalks as have come to maturity, and are full of sap, ought to be gathered. 

 If gathered too green, it produces a transparent fibre, with immense waste ; 

 if, on the other hand, too ripe, the constituent elements of silica and iron 

 are with difficulty removed. The proper months for the harvest in Africa 

 are, therefore, April to June. It must be gathered by hand, and left to dry 

 for a week or ten days before being removed for packing. From the green 

 to the dry state it loses 40 per cent, of its weight ; but even in this latter 

 form it is so cumbersome that when shipped in loose bundles it occupies 

 from four to five tons space to one ton weight. When placed under a 

 hydraulic machine, however, it can be packed into pressed bales, with iron 

 hoops, and reduced to half the above volume, as far as space is concerned, 

 each bale weighing about 1\ cwt., and 10 bales weighing about 1^ toiis. 

 Reduced to this volume, the alfa fibre can be transported not only with 

 greater facility, but this method of packing (resembling, in fact, bales of 

 pressed hay) keeps the fibre clean, and renders it of easy stowage. 



In the above manner considerable exports have lately taken place to 

 France and Belgium, where its use is every day increasing ; and it is now 

 introduced upon the English market in the same form, with the conviction 

 that the superior advantages of packing, as well as condition and quality, 

 will not fail to attract the notice of paper-manufacturers. The method of 

 treatment is now so well known that any detailed statement is unnecessary. 



The chemical constituents of the plant are as follows : — 

 Yellow colouring matter - - - 12*0 \ 



Red " » " " * ' 6 ' V26-5 



Gum and resin - - - - 7'0 ( 



Salts, forming the ashes of the Alfa - - 1*5 / 



Paper fibres - - - - 73*5 



1000 



