THP TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[August r, 1890. 
86 
'the coDstruction and capabilities of the Mauritius 
machines. They appear, so far, to fully meet the re- 
quirements of the Mauritius planters, and moreover, 
they have been adopted after careiiil trial with other 
machines which have been ultimately discarded. The 
particulars desired in regard to the machines in use 
have now been furnished in an exhaustive manner by 
the Government of Mauritius, and they are published in 
the Kew Bulletin with the view of placing the infor- 
mation within reach of a large class of people interested 
in the subject.^ * * * 
Answers to queries respecting machines in use at 
Mauritius for extracting fibres from leaves of Furcma 
gi^antm^^ ^jachine in general use in this Colony is a 
drum of 2 feet in diameter by 1 foot in width, upon 
which are bolted blades in 2-inch t steel, and which 
revolves at a great speed, the blades passing close to 
a guide in cast iron (“ servante.”) The machine is 
called a (“gratte”) scraper. It is manufactured in 
the Colony by all engineers’ shops, but chiefly by the 
“ Forges and Fonderies de Maurice,” 
2 The weight of the drum is about 4 cwt., the 
cost' including the driving pulley and bolts (exclusive 
of framework, masonry, and setting,) is about R250 per 
grat^^i^ gratte has been in general use in Mauritius 
for the last six years. , ^ ^ 
4 The machine is worked by steam or by water 
power^^^ registered horse-power to drive one gratte 
6^ 'chie gratte is served by two men who stand on 
each side of the gratte, and who work alternately. 
One of them must be left-handed. One carrier will 
bring in sufficient leaves from the yard to the gratte, 
and another man will suffice to remove the wet fibre 
produced by two grattes and to carry this fibre to the 
weighing machine and thence to the cleaning pits. 
7 The out-turn of wet fibre for each machine per 
hour is, on an average, 42| kilog., that is taking eight 
hours’ work per day, which is as much as the men can 
do, the work being very fatiguing. 
8 The out-turn per day of eight hours is per machine 
fgratte) 340 kil. wet supplying on an average 97 kil. of 
dry fibre (or 28i per cent of the wet fibre.) 
9 The average cost in labour, tuel, &o. in 
cleaning a ton of dry fibre, packing, and 
transporting to the place of shipment is .. 
If to the above ^ve add other charges, viz., 
collecting leaves, carting, mill management, 
interest on capital, &c., say about 
R 
150 
75 
The total average cost of one ton of fibre 
readv for shipment is ••• ••• R225 
ready lor p (Signed) A. Vandeemeeesch, 
17th February 1890. Acting Surveyor-Genl. 
SuMMAEY OP A Note on the Fibre Machines gene. 
HALLY IN USB AT MAURITIUS POR AlOB CLEANING 
Fibre, by I^egis de Chazal. 
1 Bescrivtion of Machine. —T \iq machine generally 
In use in Mauritius for extracting fibre from the leaves 
nf the green Aloe Furcreea (jigantea) ia_ known under 
t^he name of gratte. This gratte consists of a drum 
Sonr2 feet in diameter and 1. foot wide. On the 
circumference of this are bolted 2-inch L-shaped blades 
narallel to the axis. These blades are generally of 
Fron but steel is preferred. They are firmly fixed to 
the drum by means of bolts and nuts. The drum is 
mounted upon an axle and made to revolve with 
FFcat ranidhv close to and against the front or edge 
of a feed table (srrwmle). The feed table is adjusted 
Lv means of screws SO as to approach the revolving 
drum within a distance of quarter inch to an inch, as 
remiired It is composed of a stout brass plate and 
ifn f tteri firmly to a piece of hard wood by means of 
I Fu tL pintle ^nd wood are themselves fixed to 
two wooden bars, 0 inclies by « inches, which serves 
as guides in tho movoment of tho food table back- 
wards and forwards. 
The most difficult task in connexion with working 
the gratte is the exact adjustment of this feed table. 
It is most necessary that the blades on the drum and 
the edge of the feed table are so adjusted that thev 
work freely and evenly and at the same time bring 
every fibre in the leaf in contact with the beaters. 
The proper adjustment of the feed table in regard to 
the heaters is stated to be the secret of the success nf the 
gratte as a fibre machine. This adjustment should be 
performed with the utmost care before the machine is 
started. When once adjusted it is important to maintain 
the feed table in its proper position and prevent any 
displacement during the process of working. 
The drum should be turned at an average rate of 
700 revolutions per minute, while a higher rate of 
speed may be maintained without injury, i<- is found 
not desirable under any circumstances to fall below 
620 revolutions per minute. The best and most eco? 
nomical work is that done at 700 revolutions per minute. 
Method of Working . — The Aloe leaf is presented tip 
first along the feed table, and is drawn down between 
the latter and the drum. It is thoroughly beaten by 
the grattes to about three-fourths of its iength. By 
these means the pulp is removed and the fibre is left. 
The leaf is then withdrawn and the other end presented 
to the beaters until the whole is cleaned. 
Two men usually work at each machine. They stand 
one on each side of the feed table and work alternately. 
It is desirable for ranid work that one of the men 
should be left-handed. Bach man in turn presents his 
leaf to the mrchineand withdraws it as soon as possi- 
ble, In a regular and efficient working of tlie machine 
it is arranged that one man or the other should 
always have a leaf in the machine in cour.se, of being 
cleaned. To avoid accidents the feed table is now 
provided with a wooden gii.ard. This guard prevents 
the hands of the workpeople from being caught by 
the beaters. 
Moiinting the Machines — The machines are generally 
mounted in pairs both working on the same axle, and 
driven by steam or water power. The driving wheel 
fixed midway on the axle between the two machines 
should have a minimum dinmetor of 18 inches, 
with a strap 6 inches wide. A single adjust- 
ment of the feed table should last from eight to 15 
days. At the end of that time it is generally found 
necessary to readjust the pasts to ensure good results. 
The framework of the machine is sccnrely attached 
to substantial raasonary work by large bolts about 
5 feet long. The machines must be thus firmly secured 
or the vibration during the process of working would 
soon cause them to be come detached. The arrange- 
ment of the machines in pairs on the same axle could 
be extended in the same line indefinitely, provided 
the necessary distance is preserved between the centre 
of each machine One of the largest fibre factories 
in Mauritius contains 12 machines, that is six pairs 
arranged as already described. 
Out-turn of Fibre . — As already stated each machine 
is served by two men standing on each side of the 
feed table. One carrier supplies them wi?h fresh leaves 
while anntbor is engaged in receiving and removing 
the wet fibre. The task of a man, which can be easilv 
accomplished in six to eight hours, is 250 lb. (or 125 
kilos of wet fibre). The wage paid for this is one 
rupee. Sometimes, however, by extra work (for which 
the workman is paid at the rate of 50 cents per 
100 lb), as much as 800 to 900 lb. of wet fibre 
have been produced in a single day. This amount 
amount, however, is quite exceptional. 
The proportion of dry fibre to the wet fibre as it 
leaves the machine varies from 22 to 30 per cent. 
The yield of dry fibre in relation to the weight of 
green leaves varies according to the age of leaves and 
the characteristics of the season. The riper the leaves 
the larger the yield of fibre; a wet season producing 
leaves charged with moisture will also affect the result. 
To produce a ton of drv fibre ready for .shipment 
requires from 80,000 to 1.50,000 leaves, varying according 
to tho size and age of the leaves and character of the 
season. The cutting of the leaves costs from 50 cents 
to one rupee the 100 bundles of 25 leaves each. The 
higher price is paid when labour is scare, or when the 
