Agricultural and Technical. 



203 



appeared to be under 10/. per ton of clean fibre for labour, ex- 

 clusive of general expenses. The valuation of the samples 

 varied from 56/. to 70/. per ton, according to the quality of the 

 stricks of fibre sent ; and the yield on the heckles was considered 

 quite satisfactory. The report throughout was very satisfactory. 



Here, then, we have a process which presents the following 

 advantages over the ordinary methods : — 



1. Great saving in time. 



2. Economy of fibre. 



3. Avoidance of any nuisance, and beneficial application of 

 waste products. 



Dr. Hodges, to whom the steep liquor was submitted for ex- 

 amination, found that one gallon evaporated to dryness gave — 



Of organic matter . . . 353*97 grains, 

 inorganic , . 161*49 



Total extractive matter , 515-46 

 The organic matter afforded on analysis — 



Of nitrogen .... 17*79 grains. 

 The inorganic matter possessed the following composition : — 





Per 



cent. 



Per gallon 



Potassa . 



. 27 



•17 



44 



63 



Soda . . . 



o 

 O 



IS 



5 



12 



Chloride of Sodium . 



. 21 



•58 



34 



61 



Lime . . . 



5 



91 



9 



49 



Magnesia 



4 



60 



7' 



40 



Peroxide of iron 





•83 



1 



33 



Sulphuric acid 



. 15 



64 



25 



11 



Phosphoric acid 



o* 



66 



9- 



01 



Carbonic acid 



. 12 



43 



19 



96 



Silica 



3 



00 



4- 



83 





100-000 



161* 



49 



The taste and smell of the liquor very much resembled that of 

 hay, and when poured over the crushed " bolls " or chaff it was 

 readily consumed by cows and pigs, who appeared to thrive on 

 it. No purgative effect had been noticed, while its nutritive 

 properties were estimated as fully c^ual to distillers' w ash. 



No sooner, however, had the spiuners given their testimony 

 in favour of Watts' fibre, than another process was patented by 

 Buchanan, which appears to be an improved application of the 

 same principle as Watts', for the solvent power is clearly not due 

 to the steam as made use of by him, but to the hot water occasioned 

 by its condensation. In this the steeping is effected by repeated 

 immersions in a tank of heated w-ater, arrangements being made 

 by which the temperature is never allowed to exceed a certain 

 degree — a point of great importance, both as regards the abstrac- 



