52 The Manufacture of Paper. 
though the chemicals used are the same, chloride of lime, 
dilute acid, and weak alkaline solutions. The acid used 
is usually hydrochloric or sulphuric, which must be 
very dilute or the fibre will be injured. A_ process 
has been patented lately in France for using carbonic 
acid instead of the stronger acids, which has the ad- - 
vantage of being cheaper, and an excess does not 
damage the fibre.- It is proposed to generate this acid by 
burning charcoal in a current of air and making it pass up 
through the vat contaming the bleach by introducing it at 
the bottom by means of a perforated pipe. After the bleach- 
ing, the pulp undergoes the same treatment, no matter from 
what material it is derived. 
There seems to be great difficulty in selecting a site for a 
mill close to Melbourne, as the Yarra, besides being liable to 
floods, is not sufficiently clear for white paper, and the 
small streams would not supply sufficient water during the 
whole year. Few, I think, know that one hundred gallons 
of water are used in the production of every pound of white 
aper. 
: iyeeyane interested might make experiments testing the 
value of plants for paper-making, without having any prior 
knowledge of the manufacture by working thus: Gathering 
the leaves when they have attained their full size, and 
drying in the sun, then taking a weighed quantity and 
mascerate it with water in a mortar, then digest it in a hot 
solution of lime, or dilute alkali, or strong soap answers 
very well, as long as the solution is coloured, then wash 
with hot water, dry and weigh. The result is nearly correct — 
for brown paper, but a little too high for white, on account 
of the loss which takes place in pulping. 
Machinery was brought here by the late Mr. Kenny, who 
intended to start a manufactory. Since his death this 
machinery has lain idle, but I think we may hope soon to 
see it In Operation. 
