Fibres, 



270 



[May 1907. 



These figures show that in chemical behaviour and composition this fibie 

 closely resembles Sample 1, and the same conclusions may be drawn with regard 

 to the quality of the product. 



The commercial experts reported that the fibre was of iuferior quality, had 

 not been well cleaned, and was worth from £22 to £22 10s. per ton in the London 

 market. 



Sample No. 3 (Sisal Hemp).— This sample of Sisal Hemp from Madras consisted 

 of pale straw-coloured lustrous fibi'e, which had been well cleaned, and was of 

 fairly good but rather irregular strength. The length of staple varied from 3 feet 

 9 inches to 4 feet 3 inches. 



On chemical examination the fibre furnished the following results :— 



Moisture, per cent. 



9-3 



Ash, per cent. 



1-5 



a-Hydrolysis, loss per cent... 



... 13-6 



6-Hydrolysis, „ „ „ ... 



... 16-9 



Acid purification, loss percent 



2-9 



Mercerisation, ,, ,, ,, 



... 10-8 



Nitration, gain per cent. 



... 33-1 



Cellulose, per cent. 



... 75-7 



These figures show that the sample is of fairly good quality, although 

 somewhat inferior to a specimen of Sisal Hemp from Saharanpur, which has also 

 been examined in the Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial Institute 

 (see table on page 272). This inferiority is shown particularly in the greater loss 

 sustained in hydrolysis and in the lower percentage of cellulose, and is probably 

 mainly due to the present sample not having been so well cleaned as that from 

 Saharanpur. 



The commercial experts reported that the fibre was fairly well cleaned, of 

 medium length and fair colour, and worth from £29 to £30 per ton in the London 

 market. 



Sample No. 4 (Sisal Hemp).— Tnis sample of Sisal Hemp from Lai Bagh 

 Bangalore, resembled sample No. 3, but was somewhat cleaner and rather coarser 

 The material was of good strength and had a length of staple ih to 5 feet. 



The following are the results of the chemical examination of this 

 sample :— 



Moisture, per cent. ... ... ... ... 9"3 



Ash, ,, ,, ... ... ... ... 1-2 



a-Hydrolysis, loss per cent. ... ... ... 11*4 



Z>-Hydrolysis „ „ ,, ... ... ... ... 16*0 



Acid purification loss per cent ... ... ... 2'1 



Mercerisation, ,, ,, ,, ... ... ... 8'4 



Nitration, gain per cent. ... ... ... ... 41 '2 



Cellulose, percent. ... ... ... ... 77'6 



These results show that this fibre resembles the preceding sample of Sisal 

 Hemp, but is somewhat superior to it. especially in richness in cellulose. It is 

 however, inferior to the sample from Sahranpur referred to above. 



The commercial experts reported that tne fibre was of good quality length 

 and colour, and had been fairly well cleaned, but contained some hard, imperfectly 

 prepared strands, and that it was worth £31 to £32 per ton in the London market. 



