41 



Description of Sample. 



The sample consisted of a portion of petiole weighing 30Z, and 

 a quantity of fibre weighing 13 oz. 



The petiole was about 3 inches in diameter and was composed of 

 a compact mass of dark, reddish-brown fibre and cellular tissue, sur- 

 rounded by a very thin, smooth epidermis. The fibre which had 

 evidently been obtained from the inside of the stem or petiole of the 

 palm, was dark reddish-brown and very coarse and brittle. This 

 product would be of little or on value for rope mat or brushmaking, 

 or as a stuffing material, on account of its coarseness, weakness, 

 brittleness, and lack of flexibility and resiliency. 



Results of Examination. 



Experiments were made at the Imperial Institute in order to as- 

 certain whether the petiole or the fibre could be used for papermaking. 

 Both materials, on suitable treatment with hot alkali, yielded a 

 brownish pulp w^hich was easily bleached to a very pale cream 

 colour. 



The results of the examination of the petiole and fibre are given 

 in the following table, which also includes the corresponding figures 

 for Algerian esparto grass: — 



Nipa palm Nipapalm Esparto grass 



petiole fibre from Oran 



per cent. per cent. per cent. 



Moisture (calculated by 



drying at lOO' to 110° C) 21.5 - 17.3 8.8 



Ash (calculated on dried material) 14.2 7.0 3.0 



Yield of unbleached pulp 



(dried at 100° to lio' C) :— 

 Calculated on material as received 10.8 24.2 29.5 



Calculated on dried material 13. 8 29.2 32.3 



Loss of pulp on bleaching 8.4 8.4 1. 3 



Yield of bleached pulp (dried at 



100° to no" C) calculated on dried 



material 12.6 26.8 32.0 



Length of ultimate fibre. Generally from From 



0.028 to O.I inch; 0.012 to inch; 0.12 



average, 0.056 inch average 0.045 inch 



The above figures show that the yield of pulp from the fibre 

 calculated on the dried material, is slightly below^ that for esparto 

 grass similarly treated, whilst the yield from the whole petiole is 

 very low. 



Samples of the paper prepared at the Imperial Institute from the 

 Nipa pulp are enclosed with this report. Th^ paper would no doubt 

 be stronger if prepared under manufacturing conditions. 



