92 
After due consideration for the treatment of megass, it is found 
that the best and most profitable pulp is resolved after subjecting the 
material to a digestion for a period of about twelve hours at one 
atmosphere. At this stage the mass of fibres still retain a small 
proportion of extractive matter, which must be completely washed out 
before entering upon the later process of preparation. 
This pulp, after beating, shows rather marked variations in the 
dimensions of the ultimate fibres, which appears to be a definite 
characteristic of this particular pulp. Some of it exists in a finely- 
divided state, whilst that originally derived from the more external 
parts of the sugar-cane is rather coarse and incompletely disinte- 
grated. On this account, the effect of a too strong alkalinity in the 
boilers causes the breaking up into an extremely short pulp which is 
weak, and possesses but little felting power ; whereas, by working 
at low pressure, a state of pulp is produced which, on gentle 
treatment in the beating-engine is easily resolved into a most 
valuable stulf, and though somewhat harsh may be manipulated in 
such a manner as to produce an exceptionally strong and serviceable 
paper. 
It is most important in practice that great care should be 
exercised during the beating operation, especially when running 
without admixture of other stock as a distinctive and valuable 
property may be imparted directly affecting the quality of the finish- 
ed paper. 
It has been stated by prominent experts that satisfactory results 
from the use of bleaching agents were not available, and in accord- 
ance with the results of experimental investigation the chances of 
successful treatment at first seemed somewhat remote ; nevertheless, 
under modified conditions of working, a very fair pulp may readily 
be obtained at a comparatively small cost. An approximation of the 
amount necessary to bleach a well-boiled pulp being about 15 per 
cent, of powder on the dry fibre. To this must be added the 
inconsiderable cost of about 1 to 2 per cent, of other chemical 
materials. Apropos of this, it is admitted to be a matter of no little 
difficulty to bleach direct with chlorine in an economical manner. 
In the first place, however, it should be remembered that 
apparently unimportant variations in the boiling process give rise to 
considerable differences in the after-reaction of the bleaching agents 
employed. Again, although it has been clearly recognised that any 
definite development in the use of megass as a raw material must 
" - ! depend largely upon the question of efficient bleaching, it may be 
pointed out that the doubtful opinion as to its value which is enter- 
