272 
n dry, might be removed by a light shaking or scutching, it is 
oVidait that this machine will prepare more than half a 
ribbons per day. It is notat all VL emer that M. de Landtsheer will 
be able to effect some further improvement in this machine. In any 
case the machine is worthy the attention of planters, who with a e 
instrument could work off about 50 tons of green stems per wee 
This is an exceptionally good result, and it serves to show what progress 
has now been made in perfecting machines for treating the Ramie plant 
on a commercial scale. 
In the second trials 46 kilos. of stems with pie were put through 
he result was 15 kilos. o 
or of 575 pounds (avoir.) of dry ribbons in the same period. "There 
is a considerable difference between the results obtained by this machine 
in the first and second trials. This was also noticeable in the Barbier 
machine. The construction of these machines evidently does not enable 
them to cope with stems with leaves atiii d. On the other hand the 
Favier machine did better with stems with leaves than those without 
leaves. This, however, is not a matter of great importance. In the 
field the leaves could be easily detached during the cutting; and if not 
removed then, they would fall off of their own accord after lying in a 
heap (inducing a slight fermentation) for a few hours 
FLEURY-MORICEAU PROCESS. 
Only one process was shown. This was ec aa simple, and con- 
sisted of steeping the fresh o ay) stems for a ree rt period in boiling 
water and removing the ribbons and. An open galvanised tank 
about 6 feet long, 2 feet wide, ie about 4 feet deep, filled with 
water, was raised on bricks (or stones) about 18 inches from the ground 
over en fire. When the water had reached boiling point a crate 
containing 50 to 100 fresh stems was lowered «m » (and wien on 
eir age and character) left in it for 5 or 15 minutes. At the end of 
that time the erate was lifted out, the vis left 46. anki while inogier 
lot was put in. ‘The stems alread steeped were then taken up by a 
couple of workmen and quickly and effectually cleaned by hand. "The 
action of the boiling water had apparently voten loosened ve 
attachment of the cortex to the wood, and ribbons were produce 
perfectly clean and regular, and apparently without any tis of fibre. 
This method was tested in the first trials only. The operation began 
by placing 18 kilos. of fresh stems in boiling water and allowing them 
. r nute 
including the tim cupied in immersing the stems) the workmen, 
apparently not specially trained in the work, produced 5:600 kilos. of 
excellent ribbons. This would be at the rate of 73 kilos. of wet ribbons 
per day of 10 hours; or of 161 pounds (avoir.) of dry ribbons for the 
same period. 
This process, it will be noticed, is of the simplest possible description. 
The only ae necessary is a tank. This tank could easily be 
ved place to place in the field, ener the wood of the stems after 
the ribbons Mid removed would probabl furnish most of the fuel 
necessary. The process can, ae only be utilised in a few special 
pore where labour is very chea 
M. Crozat states i Xiblons- pfeduced by té pigiai Dd diio. 
baled, and delivered ready for shipment at a cost not exceeding 8 to 10 
