7 



Phormium. Irish Flax (Heckled). 



Moisture ... 11. 4 ... 9.1 



Ash ... 0-75 ... 1.6 



Hydrolysis (a) ... 13.6 ... 13 3 



Hydrolysis (b) ... 21.2 ... 22.1 



Cellulose ... 67.5 .. 80.2 



Mercerising ... 10.5 ... 8.4 



Nitration ... 96.9 ... 125 



Acid purification ... 1.5 ... 4.3 



Carbon percentage ... 45.0 ... 43.2 



length 8 mm. 33 mm. 



Mean of ultimate fibres 1 



diameter 0.015 mm. 0.02 mm. 



The main distinctions are (1) the relatively low percentage of cellulose in Phormium ; (2) the very low 

 yield of the nitration product, which indicates the presence of cellulose of very inferior stability — this 

 is confirmed by the relatively large loss in mercerising; (3) in morphological characteristics, the flax 

 consisting of bundles containing, at any point, but few fibres, whereas the Phormium bundles are very 

 large, and for the most part complex in structure, and therefore variable, containing a preponderance 

 of bast cells (very thin-walled compared with flax), with a central core of vessels, the whole enclosed 

 in a monocellular parenchymatous sheath. Such distinctions we cannot fail to see are correlated with 

 distinctions in physiological function : and that this is so will be more clearly elucidated in the forth- 

 coming report on Indian fibres before alluded to, in which the number of fibres examined is sufficient 

 to admit of general conclusions. 



These distinctions, moreover, must determine the different applications of the fibres in the arts, 

 and the evidence we have discourages any attempt at replacing the fine spinning textile fibres of Exo- 

 genous origin by their poorer relations the fibres of the Monocotyledons. While, however, Phormium will 

 never be entitled to rank with Flax and Hemp, there is, we think, with Phormium, as with certain 

 others of this class of fibres, a higher use than those to which they are at present applied. This will 

 depend, in any one, first upon the degree of fineness, which also involves uniformity, and divisibility 

 which it has, naturally, or to which it can be reduced by chemical treatment ; and secondly, upon the 

 cost of production. 



Now Phormium is distinguished amongst the Monocotyledons* by its very large yield of fibre, 

 which of course favourably influences, in direct ratio, the second consideration. The question therefore 

 of newer applications resolves itself rather upon the former issue. The comparative fineness of the native- 

 dressed fibre shows that careful selection and preparation of the raw material! — which are characteristic 

 of the Maori treatment can accomplish much in this direction, but this superiority of method is not 

 realisable commercially, or at least only partially. We have therefore to consider the alternative, or 

 chemical treatment. In the report of the Commissioners of the New Zealand Exhibition of 1865 we 

 find strong testimony in favour of a mild alkaline treatment of the raw material. To quote from this 

 report : " They" (*'. e. the alkalis) " enable us to clean the fibre with ease, but they impair its strength 

 always imparting to it a brownish tint, which can scarcely be looked upon as other than a sign of de- 

 composition. In the use of soap — the last chemical experimented upon — we have all the advantages 

 obtained by the use of alkalis, without their disadvantages ; but the high price of this article would 

 prevent its adoption for this purpose if used alone." Then after suggesting the joint use of soda (car- 

 bonate) to minimise the quantity necessary to use, they conclude by saying, " the fibre obtained in 

 this way is easily cleaned, is not discoloured, and appears as strong as that prepared without the use of 

 chemicals." 



Quite apart from the recommendations of the Commissioners in the particular case of Phormium 

 the hydrolitic action of the alkalis has long been known and used as the most effective and safest way 

 of treating raw fibres for the removal of non-cellulose impurities. In recent years a great deal of 

 work has been done with the sulphites in this direction. The results obtained with the basic alkaline 

 sulphites are such as to give a complete range of treatments down to the isolation of the ultimate fibres 

 with the minimum of chemical modification of the fibre constituents, and therefore alteration of the 

 natural colour of the fibre. It is impossible in this report to do more than consider the more practical 

 questions involved, and I must limit myself to a bare statement of the advantages of sulphite of soda in 

 relation to the treatment of Phormium. Its solvent action is superior to that of soap ; the combination 

 of the base with sulphurous acid gives to the compound a deoxidising power, the effect of which upon 

 the fibre is a notable bleaching action, owing to recent improvements in manufacture it can be pro- 

 duced at a cost one-third that of soap, and it is worthy of note, at about one-third of the cost of the 

 crystalline compound formerly exclusively known to commerce. The process of treating fibres and 

 raw fibrous materials with this sulphite patented by myself in England in 18^0, has been worked out 

 with considerable success by Mr. J. P. Strangman, of Sarno, Italy, for the preparation of a finer 

 spinning fibre from dressed Italian hemp. This gentleman accompanying me in one of my rounds at. 

 the Exhibition, expressed his willingness to test the process upon the machine-dressed Phormium. 

 Sir Julian von Haast having been approached on the subject, secured the co-operation of Mr. D. W. 

 Bell of 14 Milton Street, E. C, who shipped a parcel of 12cwt., of fibre to Italy. The results of the 

 contemplated experiments will be announced in due course. Such a process is of course different from 

 that recommended by the Commissioners, in starting from the dressed fibre ; the purpose however is tha. 



* 15-20 per cent, on the green leaf as compared with the average 3-7 in Aloe, Manilla, Ac. 



t It is interesting to note that the mean length o the ultimate fibre was determined at 11.15 mm. in the native- 

 dressed specimens, as against 8 mm. in the machine-dressed. 



