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class of Esparto, that the cost of treatment is about the same. We 

 are disposed to think that Lalang is of more general and of some- 

 ■ L - A higher value. By varying the chemicals and mechanical 



treatment of Lalang and by cutting it at different stages of its 

 growth and by a slight admixture of other fibrous materials, a great 

 variety of papers may be made varying from strong wrapping 

 papers to high class writing papers. When working on a large 

 scale we anticipate no difficulty in getting the pulp perfectly clean 

 and free from spots. 



"Musa paradisiaca, the plantain, can be utilized for the manu- 

 facture of very strong paper. The raw material can be more easily 

 resolved if put into the boilers in the undried condition and we may 

 expect that by this means a bleached product may be obtained of 

 good enough colour to mix with Lalang stock." 



Figures showing the cost of producing one ton of unbleached pulp 

 from Lalang £6-5-10 and of one ton bleached, £9-5-0 are given and 

 it is noted that about half the caustic soda can be recovered by an 

 evaporator reducing the cost to £4-15-4 and £7-9-10 respectively. 

 It requires 2 tons 12 cwt. to produce a ton of unbleached and 3 tons 

 I cwt. 20 lbs. to produce one ton bleached. It will thus be seen 

 that in many points the troublesome Lalang is superior to the valued 

 hsparto grass for pape. making and a manufacture of halfstuff 

 would probably pay well. It would not be advisable to attempt 

 shipping the grass untreated as it is very bulky and would be likely 

 to nre on the way. Halfstuffs made in Singapore could be pressed 

 into compact bales and readily shipped. 



Although many Lalang wastes in the Peninsula are being 

 cleared and put under cultivation for rubber and other plants, still 

 the supply of the grass is sufficiently large to make a very large 

 amount of halfstuff, and its rapid growth after cutting would allow 

 of a very large constant supply. One particular advantage of Lalang 

 should be noted, that its purity from extraneous weeds, over very 

 large areas. There would be little need for sorting out objectionable 

 matter in collecting the grass. The advantage to the world in sub- 

 stituting as a paper stuff the worthless and noxious Lalang for the 

 timber worked up into wood pulps needs no pointing out. 



It is difficult just now to induce any one to consider any other 

 cultivation or manufacture than that of rubber, but there is it 

 appears a distinct opening for the manufacture of pulps from Lalang 

 grass which we may hope to see put into practice. 



It is possible, too, that the waste Citronella and Lemon grass after 

 the extraction of the oil may be of equal value and this would add 

 considerably to the profits of the Citronella and Lemon grass 

 cultivators, and it is desirable that experiments on this waste product 

 similar to those on the Lalang should be carried out. 



