219 
We value them at £10 to £12 per ton, but would require a few 
tons for distribution before being able to say definitely whether 
in this state they would be preferable or otherwise to the ordinary 
cleaned China grass. 
Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) IDE & CHRISTIE. 
D. Morris, Esq., C.M.G., D.Sc. 
Faures Decorticator. 
The Faure machine, as already stated, has taken a new form 
since the Paris trials of 1891. The im roved machine was under 
trial at Limoges in July of 1897. In the COMME HOD, the inventor 
has aimed at the production, in one operation, not of ribbons Ed 
strips, but of fibre ** free from woody matter, from skin, and wi 
the least amount of * juice’ in it.” He claims that the product is 
ut in 
condition, and free from the possibility of dali tion. The 
new Faure machine “is fed by two men, Wore alternately, 
each iso in his hand about ten stems. The stems are treated 
green in the same condition as cut, with us ine attached. 
The Porra of feodis is as follows :— The stems are passed 
twice. They enter the machine leaf end first, and after being 
teoste about two-thirds of their length they are withdrawn, an 
operation easily carried out, and fed in a second ic the thick 
end first, so as to complete the operation . . The machine 
is simple in construction. Practical experience shows that 
two men working at one machine can treat 360 pounds of 
fresh green stems per hour, or about 35 cwts. per day of ten hours. 
The amount of suy fibre produced depends on the nature and 
growth of the stems On a 5 per cent. basis, the net 
production 2 ‘ty fibre by ‘each machine per day is 180 pounds. 
Und ordinary circumstances, a Aie ae varying from 
160 to an pr of dry fibre in ten hours per machine may be 
expect 
pe is ihe inventor’s own account of the capabilities of the 
machine. The first point that will occur to those acquainted with 
the numerous efforts to extract the fibre by mechanical means is 
the € that still exists, even in this improved erret s 
pass the stems twice into it. Abou t 5wóvthirüs of the st 
first cleaned and withdrawn, they are then reversed, and pony in a 
second time to complete the operation. This practically reduces 
the — of the machine almost i one-half. 
Experience in the Pa of Agave leaves (a problem now 
ioniy i solved) has s n that the pore effective Ms is for the 
raw material to be d once only to the machine and it 
yo oe pass through —— further handling. When this i is the 
a boy of fift n do the work of two men, and feed a 
sinihido A pesn half à a oes of dry fibre per day. 
It is to be noted that the prepared fibre from the Faure crm 
is claimed to be “equivalent to commercial China grass." 
latter is hand-cleaned fibre with an average value in the Dobiion 
market of about £30 per ton. With a possible maximum yield 
of 2 wie. of hey Gland per da feorts the Faure machine the gross 
