41 
Description of Sample. 
The sample consisted of a portion of petiole weighing 30 z. and 
a quantity of fibre weighing 13 oz. 
The petiole was about 3 inches in diameter and was composed of 
a compact mass of dark, reddish-brown fibre and cellular tissue, sur- 
rounded by a very thin, smooth epidermis. The fibre which had 
evidently been obtained from the inside of the stem or petiole of the 
palm, was dark reddish-brown and very coarse and brittle. This 
product would be of little or on value for rope mat or brushmaking, 
or as a stuffing material, on account of its coarseness, weakness, 
brittleness, and lack of flexibility and resiliency. 
Results of Examination. 
Experiments were made at the Imperial Institute in order to as- 
certain whether the petiole or the fibre could be used for papermaking. 
Both materials, on suitable treatment with hot alkali, yielded a 
brownish pulp which was easily bleached to a very pale cream 
colour. 
The results of the examination of the petiole and fibre are given 
in the following table, which also includes the corresponding figures 
for Algerian esparto grassi- 
\ • 
Nipa palm 
petiole 
Nipa palm 
fibre 
Plsparto grass 
from Oran 
Moisture (calculated by 
per cent. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
drying at 100° to 1 io° C) 
21.5 
17-3 
8.8 
Ash (calculated on dried material) 
14.2 
7.0 
3.0 
Yield of unbleached pulp 
(dried at ioo° to no 0 C) : — 
Calculated on material as received 
10.8 
24.2 
29.5 
Calculated on dried material 
13.8 
29.2 
32.3 
Loss of pulp on bleachitig 
8.4 
8.4 
1.3 
Yield of bleached pulp (dried at 
ioo c to no° C) calculated on dried 
material 
12.6 
26.8 
32.0 
Length of ultimate fibre . Generally from 
From 
0.028 to 0.1 inch; 
0.012 to 
O 
Ej* 
O 
1— r 
average, 0.056 inch average 0.045 inch 
The above figures show that the yield of pulp from the fibre 
calculated on the dried material, is slightly below that for esparto 
grass similarly treated, whilst the yield from the whole petiole is 
very low. 
Samples of the paper prepared at the Imperial Institute from the 
Nipa pulp are enclosed with this report. The paper would no doubt 
be stronger if prepared under manufacturing conditions. 
