ZACATON AS A PAPER-MAKING MATERIAL. 
PHYSICAL TESTS OF ZACATON PAPERS. 
25 
It is impossible to grade these papers according to any recognized 
classification, since the fiber from the zacaton plant is not recognized 
as the equivalent of any commercial paper stock. From the fact 
that the chemical examination placed the fiber very close to soda 
poplar fiber it might be regarded as the equivalent of soda poplar in 
grading the samples according to any scheme of classification. How- 
ever, since the endurance of these papers, as well as their behavior 
under manufacturing conditions, yet remains to be proved, it would 
hardly be justifiable at present to regard zacaton fiber as the equiva- 
FlG. 13— Beating machine supplied with washer. 
lent of any commercial fiber. It would seem better, on the whole, to 
consider each physical test by itself in characterizing these special 
papers. 
The system of classification and specifications followed in this work 
is that established by Veitch, 1 which in the main is used as the basis 
in the purchase of paper by the Government. 
Sample sheets from the semicommercial tests were submitted to 
the Leather and Paper Laboratory of the Bureau of Chemistry for 
physical examination. This laborato ry makes use of a testing room 
i Veitch, F. P. Paper specifications. In U. S. Dept. Agr. Rpt. 89, p. 13-51, 4 fig. 1909. 
