9i 
A quantity of this raw material recently received from Trinidad 
together with a specimen copy of the first newspaper that has been 
printed from paper made from megass has served to awaken fuithei 
interest in this important discovery ; and, at the same time, suggested 
the possibility of improving the paper by means of scientific in- 
vestigation. The sample forwarded for examination was received in 
a well broken-up condition of a straw to buff colour, and marked by 
a few patches of hard brownish outer-cane. The material is rather 
uneven in strength, some of the fibres are fairly strong, but the 
majority when reduced are soft, and variable in composition. 
The chemical examination furnished the following results, the 
percentages (other than that of moisture) being expressed on the dry 
material : 
Moisture 
iros 
Asti 
i'54 
Loss on (A) hydroslyis 
30-01 
Loss on (B) hydrolysis 
4870 
Loss on mercerisadon 
3273 
Gain on nitration 
I0'2I 
Cellulose 
4771 
Length of ultimate fibre 
. . 3-5 mm, 
The behaviour of the fibre with re-agents shows that it is highly 
lignified, with uneven distribution ; the percentage of cellulose, 
however, is sufficient to make it probable that it would meet with 
a ready demand as a papermaking material if it could be placed upon 
the market at a price which would enable it to compete with other 
materials of this class. 
Although several kinds of strong paper can be made from 
megass, it is found most suitable for printing and wrapping papers, 
and notwithstanding its natural hardness the finished paper possesses 
good folding and crumpling properties, and, moreover, is of unusual 
strength. It is, therefore, only reasonable that its resources should 
be developed as fully as possible. 
With this object in view special attention has been given to the 
study of its percentage yield by technical trials in the digester. It was 
found from a number of preliminary boils with caustic soda that the 
stuff could be treated to yield a good pulp without resorting to high 
pressure boiling at a consumption of only 7 per cent, to 10 per cent, 
of caustic soda during a period of eight hours up to one atmosphere 
pressure. It yields in this manner :an average of about 45 per cent, 
to 50 per cent, of raw fibre, whereas with more severe treatment the 
resultant pulp falls to 38 per cent, to 40 per cent., and under the latter 
conditions the consumption of bleaching powder necessary to effect 
a good colour is excessive, 
