May 1907.] 



FIBRES. 



AGAVE AND FURCRAEA FIBRES FROM MADRAS. 



These samples of fibre were forwarded to the Imperial Institute by the Agri- 

 Horticultural Society, Teyuampett, Madras. It was stated that the plants had been 

 grown at Madras, Bangalore, and Chickmagalur in the Kadur district, that is, at 

 sea-level, and at 3,000 and 4,000 feet above the seadevel respectively. The samples 

 have been submitted to chemical and mechanical tests in the Scientific and Technical 

 Department of the Imperial Institute, and have been referred to commercial experts 

 for valuation. A description of the fibres and an account of the results of the 

 investigation are given below. 



Sample No. 1 (Agave Vera-Cruz).— This sample of Agave Vera-Cruz fibre from 

 Chickmagalur, Kadur, was of a dirty white colour, and had not been well cleaned 

 and prepared, but still retained some adherent green matter. The material was 

 rather weak and irregular in strength, and varied in length from 3 to 4 feet. The 

 results of the chemical examination of this sample are as follows : — 



Moisture, per cent. 



9-1 



Ash, per cent. ... 



25 



a-Hydrolysis, loss per cent. 



19-8 



fr-Hydi-olysis, ,,,,,, 



21-4 



Acid purification, loss per cent. 



5-7 



Mercerisation, ,, ,, 



12-2 



Nitration, gain per cent. ... 



39-1 



Cellulose, per cent. 



71-4 



From a comparison of these results with those obtained with other Indian 

 specimens of Agave fibres which have been examined in the Scientific and Technical 

 Department of the Imperial Institute (see table on page 272), it is evident that 

 the present sample suffers considerable loss when boiled with dilute alkali (a- and 

 &-hydrolysis). It is probable, however, that this loss is largely due to the extraction 

 by the alkali of gummy matter which was not removed during the preparation of 

 the material, since the greater part of the loss takes place during the first five 

 minutes' boiling («-hydrolysis), and the additional loss after an hour's boiling is 

 comparatively small. It is probable, that, if well prepared, the fibre would be of 

 a good, durable quality. The proportion of cellulose in the fibre is somewhat low, 

 but this, again, is no doubt due to the presence of the impurities already mentioned. 



The commercial experts reported that the fibre was worth about £24 to 

 £25 per ton, but that, if well prepared and thoroughly cleaned, it would probably 

 be worth from £26 to £28 per ton in the London market. 



Sample No. 2 (Agave Vera-Cruz).— This sample of Agave Vera-Cruz fibre 

 from Madras had been badly prepared and incompletely cleaned, a good deal of 

 green matter still remaining attached to it. 



The material was of brownish colour, of rather poor strength, and had a 

 length of staple varying from 3 feet 9 inches to 4 feet 5 inches. 



On chemical examination the following results were obtained :— 



Moisture, per cent. 



9-1 



Ash, per cent. 



3*4 



a-Hydrolysis, loss per cent. 



19-5 



fr-Hydrolysis „ „ „ 



21-G 



Acid purification, loss per cent. 



4-5 



Mercerisation, ,, „ ,, 



12-7 



Nitration, gain per cent. , M 



38-0 



Cellulose, per cent, M 



... 72-5 



