92 



After due consideration for the treatn^ent of megass, it is found 

 that the best and most profitable pulp is resolved after subjecting the 

 material to a digestion for a period of about twelve hours at one 

 atmosphere. At this stage the mass of fibres still retain a small 

 proportion of extractive matter, which must be completely washed out 

 before entering upon the later process of preparation. 



This pulp, after beating, shows rather marked variations in the 

 dimensions of the ultimate fibres, which appears to be a definite 

 characteristic of this particular pulp. Some of it exists in a finely- 

 divided state, whilst that originally derived from the more external 

 parts of the sugar-cane is rather coarse and incompletely disinte- 

 grated. On this account, the effect of a too strong alkalinity in the 

 boilers causes the breaking up into an extremely short pulp which is 

 weak, and possesses but little felting power ; whereas, by working 

 at low pressure, a state of pulp is produced which, on gentle 

 treatment in the beating-engine is easily resolved into a most 

 valuable stuff, and though somewhat harsh may be manipulated in 

 such a tnanner as to produce an exceptionally strong and serviceable 

 paper. 



It is most important in practice that great care should be 

 exercised during the beating operation, especially when running 

 v/ithout admixture of other stock as a distinctive and valuable 

 property may be imparted directly affecting the quality of the finish- 

 ed paper. 



It has been stated by prominent experts that satisfactory results 

 from the use of bleaching agents were not available, and in accord- 

 ance with the results of experimental investigation the chances of 

 successful treatment at first seemed somewhat remote; nevertheless, 

 under modified conditions of working, a very fair pulp may readily 

 be obtained at a comparatively small cost. An approximation of the 

 amount necessary to bleach a well-boiled pulp being about 15 per 

 cent, of powder on the dry fibre. To this must be added the 

 inconsiderable cost of about l to 2 per cent, of other chemical 

 materials. Apropos of this, it is admitted to be a matter of no little 

 difficulty to bleach direct with chlorine in an economical mannei-. 



In the first place, however, it should be remembered that 

 apparently unimportant variations in the boiling process give rise to 

 considerable differences in the after-reaction of the bleaching agents 

 employed. Again, although it has been clearly recognised that any 

 definite development in the use of megass as a raw material must 

 depend largely upon the question of efficient bleaching, it may be 

 pointed out that the doubtful opinion as to its value which is enter- 



