9 



AFRICAN COLONIES. 



In the Cape Colony Section but little attention appeared to have been given to the subject of 

 fibres. The only specimen inviting investigation was a fibrous bark (unnamed) in the exhibit of the 

 forest department. This yielded on analysis 48 per cent, of cellulose ; the ultimate fibres were of 

 satisfactory length. 



The raw material was exceptionally clean, and readily yielded to the action of weak alkalies : all 

 these points considered, therefore, it may be looked upon as taking a place amongst paper-makers' raw 

 materials. 



Natal Court. — Amongst the fibres, which formed a somewhat prominent feature, I found a speci- 

 men which from its external characteristics alone was at once to be identified as belonging to the 

 highest class of textile fibres. From the descriptions of the Exhibitors, General Bissett and Dr. 

 Sutherland, it is known in the Colony as " Native Hemp," and is said to be obtained from a plant of 

 the Hibiscus Order. At the time of writing this report the above description has not been verified ; 

 but the question of identification, with that of the source of supply, having been taken in hand by the 

 Kew authorities —by whom, in fact, my attention was first directed to this fibre — it is unnecessary for 

 me to say more on this point. 



Chemical and microscopic investigation fully confirmed the impressions obtained on preliminary 

 inspection. The following are the results : - 



Moisture ... ... 9.4 per cent. 



Ash 



3.5 





Hydrolysis (a) 



13.7 



« 



<*) 



22.3 



<< 



Cellulose 



76.8 



a 



Mercerising 



12.5 



« 



Nitration 



117.0 





Length 25-80 mm. 



Ultimate Fibres — 



Diameter 0.032 mm. 



The constants for this fibre are in the main similar to those of flax, while the ultimate fibres are 

 distinguished by even greater length. Although the number of ultimate fibres in the filament is larger, 

 varying from two to fil'ty, the adhesion is but slight, and easily resolved. The raw fibre is, further, 

 also distinguished by giving a violet reaction with Iodine (Scbultze's solution), which is characteristic 

 of fibres of only the highest class. Unfortunately the fibre had not been prepared with sufficient care 

 to enable us to put it through a fine-spinning trial, on flax machinery. A certain proportion of bark 

 still adhered to the fibre, and this would have made the heckling a very wasteful process. Having only 

 a email quantity of fibre at command, we therefore put it through the special process, mentioned in the 

 report on Phormium tenax. The fibre was first submitted to an alkaline treatment for the removal of 

 bark, and after drying, was torn up into short staple fibre and spun on cotton machinery. The yarn 

 obtained was of a greyish colour, bleaching easily, under the ordinary treatment to a full white. It 

 was remarkably soft to the touch, more nearly resembling an Angola yarn than fl ix or cotton. It is 

 scarcely necessary to point out that the highest capabilities of the fibre are no*, brought out by such a 

 treatment, but the trial was nevertheless useful as a demonstration of its spinning properties. The fibre 

 has been submitted to flax-spinners of experience, and from inspection, together with the results of 

 laboratory investigation, they have formed a high estimate of its value. 



These are only preliminary results, but they are of sufficient importance to warrant an extended 

 investigation of the fibre, with the view to its introduction to commerce. 



In addition to the above there were specimens of Fourcroya and other Monocotyledonous fibres. I 

 did not repeat upon these specimens investigations already completed upou other sections : and for in- 

 formation upon these fibres the special reports of the Indian and West Indian sections should be con- 

 sulted. 



WEST AFRICAN COLONIES. 



In these sections I found specimens of very interesting nature. The textiles of native production 

 are extremely ingenious aud tasteful in their combinations of colour. From amongst the raw fibrous 

 materials the following were selected for special investigation : — 



(a) Bast. Exhibited in the Gambia Section, but not further described. Used by the natives for 

 a number of purposes. The fibre itself, when isolated, closely resembled jute in appearance, while 

 from specimens showing the bast in situ (a stick stripped, the fibre remaining attached so as to form a 

 species of whip), it appeared to be closely allied to the West Indian Mahoe. 



The following determinations were made ; — 



Moisture ... ... ... 11.0 per cent. 



Hydrolysis (a) ... ... ... 8.4 « 



Cellulose ... .. ... 74.5 « 



Nitration ... ... ... 121.0 " 



i Length ... 1-3.5 mm. 



Ultimate fibres -J 



I Diameter 0.02 m.m. 



This fibre is very similar in composition, chemical and structural, to jute, and is capable of similar ap- 



