G 



ing it in a model beater, after bleaching, some excellent pulp was obtained and made into sheets on 

 the frame. In this way the paper-making qualities of the fibre was satisfactorily demonstrated. In 

 these two raw materials, therefore, the Colony has a supply of good paper-making fibre their value 

 will of course be determined very much by local considerations. The papers which they make are 

 similar to those obtained from Adansonia and Esparto respectively, the yield being some 10-15 per 

 cent. less. This will convey a better idea of their market value than an attempted money estimate, 

 which would probably be misleading. 



In the Victoria Section, Mr. Guilfoyle, the director of the Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, 

 exhibited specimens of fibres, and also contributed very interesting notes upon the same in the Hand- 

 book. It was scarcely expedient to repeat upon these specimens investigations already completed with 

 the fibres in the Indian and other sections. The results of these taken together with Mr. Guilfoyle's 

 notes will be of interest to those who are considering the question of the production of fibres in the 

 Colony. Baron von Mueller's name occurs several times in the Catalogue, but not in connection with 

 fibres. It may be of interest to mention that I received from him, during the course of the experi- 

 ments upon Lepidosperma above detailed, a specimen of fibre obtained from this plant by means of the 

 Sulphite treatment, which I had brought before his notice. 



In the Queensland Section there was an interesting exhibit of " fibres grown near Brisbane, and 

 prepared by Mr. A. McPherson." This contained some very fine specimens of Jute, and also of the 

 fibre of Sida rhombi folia, the latter being especially noteworthy. These fibres are similar in their 

 main characteristics ; but while they may be classed together, the Sida is unquestionably superior. 



This is shown, first, by comparison of chemical composition, the results of analyses of the raw 

 fibres being as follows : — 



Jute. Sida. 

 Moisture ... 10.3 ... 10.7 



Ash ... 1.2 ... 0.6 



Hydrolysis (a) ... 15.0 ... 6.6 



Hydrolysis (6) ... 18.0 ... 12.2 



Cellulose ... 75.0 ... 83.0 



Mercerising ... 16.0 ... 6.6 



Nitration ... 125.0 ... 137.0 



Acid purification ... 1.0 ... 0.1 



Carbon percentage ... 46.5 ... 45.0 



The cellulose in either case is obtained in the form of ultimate fibres of the normal type, the 

 average length being 2 mm. in both, the diameter 0.015 mm. 



Secondly : Sida shows superiority in point of uniformity, fineness and divisibility of the fibre 

 bundles, and further in softness and in the colour of the raw fibre, and also in capacity for bleaching : 

 the dyeing capacity of the fibres is about equal. It is interesting to note that the distinctions in favour 

 of Sida are closely correlated wilh the above results of analysis. The net result of the comparison is, 

 that while belonging with Jute to the lower grade of textile fibres, Sida is much to be preferred, and 

 should certainly displace Jute, more especially in the higher uses to which this fibre is put. As we 

 are informed that the plant grows luxuriantly in the Australian climate, there is a very strong case 

 already made out for calling the attention of the authorities to the question of the production of the 

 fibre. 



The specimens of Jute exhibited were of unusually good quality. Mr. McPherson also exhibited 

 fibre from the Hibiscus sabdariffa, obtained from the plant by the somewhat novel process of " exposure 

 to the weather for five months." The specimen yielded on analysis 71 per cent. Cellulose, the 

 ultimate fibres closely resembling those of Jute. 



In this exhibit there was a sufficient demonstration of the fibre-producing capabilities of the 

 Australian Colonies, and the matter will no doubt be taken up practically in proportion as a supply 

 of fibrous materials comes to be demanded for home manufactures. 



NEW ZEALAND. 



In this Court the only exhibit of Vegetable Fibres was that of Phormium tenax, including both 

 machine and native (Maori) dressed fibre, and a number of yarns and cloths, spun and woven from the 

 same. As is well known, this so-called New Zealand Flax has been the subject of extensive investiga- 

 tions, with the object of improving the methods of preparation, and extending the applications of the 

 fibres, without, it must appear, anything like commensurate results. Having studied the reports which 

 have been published, and also made an investigation of the fibre upon the lines laid down in this report, 

 I shall briefly note the judgments I have formed upon the capabilities of the fibre, with the evidence 

 upon which they are based. 



It is scarcely necessary to point out that the terms Flax and Hemp, which has been applied to the 

 fibres, even with the qualification of " New Zealand," are misleading, as misnomers usually are. 

 Nothing can be clearer than the distinctions established by investigations, both chemical and morpho- 

 logical, between the two great types of Vegetable Fibres — the bast fibres of the Dicotyledons, and the 

 fibrovascular bundles of Monocotyledons nor can these distinctions be more clearly brought out than in a 

 comparison of the *' constants" of Phormium fibre with those of Flax or Hemp. 



The following are the results of analyses of the machine dressed fibre in the Exhibition, and of a 

 specimen of Irish Flax of somewhat low quality :— 



