10 
Indian Forest Records. 
[VOL. Ill 
able from that of the internodes. With their colloidal and air resistance 
thus destroyed, their additional pectous and ligneous contents sink into 
insignificance (in relation to the whole mass). Thus, in B. polymorpha 
the total of these constituents in the internodes is 36'08 per cent. In 
the nodes it amounts to 44-32 per cent., but in the whole mixed mass it 
is only 36-82 per cent. Crushing therefore entirely eliminates the two 
difficulties peculiar to bamboo, viz., its capillary air and the obstinacy to 
reduction of its nodes, and also very largely reduces its colloidal resist¬ 
ance. In regard to the difficulties which remain, it may be said to remove 
the material from the category of the woods into that of the straws to 
which it has now a much closer resemblance, and in fact, from now 
onwards, the analogy of, and the experience derived from the treatment 
of straw, will be much more useful to us than those of wood. 
12. The only drawback to crushing is the increase in the bulk of the 
Bulk nd v lume mass which it entails. The effect is to reduce the 
output from the digesters by reason of their not 
being able to contain so much dead weight of raw material. This is com¬ 
pensated for to some extent by a saving in time and chemicals, as crushed 
material digests in three-fourths of the time required by chips and in a 
weaker liquor. What remains in the way of objection is much more than 
counterbalanced by the simpler and easier digestion conditions which it 
permits, in the economy of being able to utilise the nodes, and in the 
freedom of the resultant pulp from imperfectly digested matter. A ton 
of bamboo chips occupies 90 cubic feet of space and requires 336 gallons 
of liquor to cover it after it has ceased to float, which is in the proportion 
of 1| to 1, or 1,500 cc. to 1,000 grms. When crushed, although the sp. gr. 
of the individual particles is greater, yet the bulk of the whole mass is 
increased to just about double by reason of the greater number and total 
aggregate of the spaces or voids between them, even when tamped down. 
A ton then occupies about 180 cubic feet and requires 672 gallons to 
cover it. With the percentages of soda required this means a compara¬ 
tively weak liquor of 12° or 13° Tw. The danger of the destruction of 
fibre by strong liquors is therefore to a large degree avoided. The ad¬ 
vantages which crushing gives over chipping may be summarised as 
follows :— 
(a) It economises the nodes and saves the cost of cutting them out. 
(b) It saves 2 hours in the period of digestion. 
(c) It permits a weaker liquor to be used, thus reducing the danger 
of fibre loss by hydrolysis. 
(d) It gives a more evenly digested product. 
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