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class of Esparto, that the cost of treatment is about the same. We 
are disposed to think that Lalang is of more general and of some- 
what higher value. By varying the chemicals and mechanical 
treatment of Lalang and by cutting it at different stages of its 
growth and by a slight admixture of other fibrous materials, a great 
variety of papers may be made varying from strong wrapping 
papers to high class writing papers. When working on a large 
scale we anticipate no difficulty in getting the pulp perfectly clean 
and free from spots. 
il Musa paradisiaca , the plantain, can be utilized for the manu- 
facture of very strong paper. The raw material can be more easily 
resolved if put into the boilers in the undried condition and we may 
expect that by this means a bleached product may be obtained of 
good enough colour to mix with Lalang stock.” 
Figures showing the cost of producing one ton of unbleached pulp 
from Lalang £6-5-10 and of one ton bleached, £9-5-0 are given and 
it is noted that about half the caustic soda can be recovered by an 
evaporator reducing the cost to £4-15-4 and £7-9-10 respectively. 
It requires 2 tons 12 cwt. to produce a ton of unbleached and 3 tons 
1 cwt. 20 lbs. to produce one ton bleached. It will thus be seen 
that in many points the troublesome Lalang is superior to the valued 
Esparto grass for paper making and a manufacture of halfstuff 
would probably pay w’ell. It would not be advisable to attempt 
shipping the grass untreated as it is very bulky and would be likely 
to tire on the way. Halfstuffs made in Singapore could be pressed 
into compact bales arid readily shipped. 
Although many Lalang wastes in the Peninsula are being 
cleared and put under cultivation for rubber and other plants, still 
the supply of the grass is sufficiently large to make a very large 
amount of halfstuff, and its rapid growth after cutting would allow 
of a very large constant supply. One particular advantage of Lalang 
i should be noted, that its purity from extraneous weeds, over very 
large areas. There would be little need for sorting out objectionable 
matter in collecting the grass. The advantage to the world in sub- 
stituting as a paper stuff the worthless and noxious Lalang for the 
timber worked up into wood pulps needs no pointing out. 
It is difficult just now to induce any one to consider any other 
cultivation or manufacture than that of rubber, but there is it 
appears a distinct opening for the manufacture of pulps from Lalang 
grass which we may hope to see put into practice. 
It is possible, too, that the waste Citronella and Lemon grass after 
the extraction of the oil may be of equal value and this would add 
considerably to the profits of the Citronella and Lemon grass 
cultivators, and it is desirable that experiments on this waste product 
similar to those on the Lalang should be carried out. 
