59 



ON THE APPLICATION OF ALFA OR ESPARTO TO THE 

 MANUFACTURE OF PAPER. 



BY JULES BARSE. 



Under the name of alfa in Northern Africa, and esparto in Spain 

 and other parts of Europe, we meet very commonly with a coarse 

 strong grass growing in tufts, resembling in the cylindrical form of the 

 stalk, lushes. It is known under the several scientific names oi Macro- 

 cliloa tenacissima, Lygeam spar turn, and Slip a tenacissima. 



Alfa grows without culture, in great abundance, on soils the least 

 fitted for any agricultural operations, over a large extent of country in 

 Algeria. 



By systematic gathering, the quality and the quantity of the leaves 

 are improved ; left to itself, the plant does not die being perennial. The 

 stem on which there are matured leaves, wdll no less produce fresh leaves ; 

 and it is not unusual to find on the same stem, the shoots of three suc- 

 cessive years. 



Cultivated or wild, this plant, from its hardy constitution, ought to be 

 classed in the first rank oi the vegetable products, from which industry 

 demands a regular supply of useful raw material. 



Industry and science had long foreseen the future that awaited alfa, 

 whenever it should become possible to extract economically the special 

 fibre which it contains. In spite of the efforts of a great number 

 of laborious, instructed, and persevering men, alfa is not yet a commer- 

 cial commodity, in the large sense, regularly enquired for and accepted 

 in any industry except that of ' sparterie ' or cordage. Yet the paper- 

 trade is eagerly seeking after everything that can secure it against 

 the scarcity or enhancement in price of the raw material. 



"Why is not alfa more used in the mills ? Because inventors and 

 manufacturers have often thought that they were able to use alfa before 

 the question of practical processes was matured ; many hopes have been 

 dispelled by the cost of the manufacture, according to systems, not one 

 of which, taken separately, I dare affirm, was sufficiently perfect to 

 realize a success. But if, without pretending to create a monopoly, pre- 

 vious labours are examined, with sufficient discrimination to retain what 

 is good and to reject what is bad ; if, to the sum of these collected ele- 

 ments, the results of recent experiments are added ; if above all, the 

 powerful patronage of the local administration lends its aid, an appeal 

 may be made to the judgment so often previously awarded, and bring 

 back conviction to the minds of men, who know that industry progresses 

 continuously. Such has been the object, on which I have concentrated 

 all my efforts, and towards which I now contribute the appended 

 information. 



Gathering, Management, Transport, &c, op the Fibre. — In 

 Algiers, and particularly in the province of Oran, alfa alternates with 



