FIBER FROM TUSSOCK GRASS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1310, 9 August 1886, Page 2

FIBER FROM TUSSOCK GRASS.

For some fortnight past there has been on view at the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce specimens of fibre extracted from the New Zealand tussock grass, which grows in such abundance in nearly every part of the colony. These specimens were forwarded to the committee by Mr Forsyth, who has recently obtained a Si tent for his process of extracting fibre om vegetable bodies—principally poa, rhea, lint, and snowgrass, and their several varieties. The principle Mr Fonyth seems to have proceeded upon 1c that fermentation in the vegetable is equivalent to putrefaction in the animal kingdom, and that the coating that nature provides for the fibre of plants is removed by fermentation. His process, therefore, Involves first ferments* tion, then pressing, and then washing la clastic soda, etc., to extract the vegetable matter. As Mr Forsyth in tines peak has had large experience In the .anas* factnre of fibre In Yorkshire, where he had charge of the machinery In the industrial homes erected for the pat- v pose, he must be taken -to be thoroughly conversant with, bis subject, and in fact so much is shown by the in* genoity of the machines he-has oonatmctwd for his experiments. Whether or hot the invention will accomplish all he predicts for It remains of course to be seen, bat i| is to be hoped, at all events, he wIQ find no difficulty in obtaining a fair test pa to its value. The New island tussock b one of the numerous family know an the “ Poa," bat It hss come to differ - very . much in characteristics and the nape of fibre it yields from the ordinary specimens —a difference which Mr Forsyth attributes to the fact that the plant has stood for yean . the severe climatic tesla clour high terrace land, with the re*u t that the weakest died out and the strongest survived. The fibre obtained from tussocks taken from the terrace land Mr Forsyth prooooneea to be superior in quality. By his sslea* latlons, which he professes are not founded on any extravagant basis, but open the best authority obtainable, Mr Forsyth puts the average yield at fear teas per acre, and the nine of the fibre at £3O per ton. Allowing for the loss of 60 pat cent in the preparation, he thus makes a gross return of £6O per sen The yield of fibre, he estimates, will be •'mat 04 pat cent on the ripe diy grass, Jalgingfrutothe cost of this grass delivered In Donsdia he, considers that it could be delivered .to a mill in the country, near the place of

growth, at £1 par ten, enabling the fibre to ba extracted at a coat of about £8 or £9 a ten. Even this coat of cutting and collecting the tanode by mannal labor ironld by no means complete with the reap&r and binder when legitimate bqsfua s was organised ; bat Mr Forsyth considers it would be the beijt method of proceeding until the seed from the pleat could be collected in each a quantity as to enable farmers to cultivate It on their lands. It would, moreover, ha opines, provide lucrative employment for the many unemployed at present in the colony. Such is briefly Ur Fonyth’s ' idea as to the manner ip which hia invention should be utilised. He has submitted tfao specimens of tussock fibre to boo wall* known rope manufacturing firm in Dunedin, and they state their opinion that it b too fine for tope, but sbonld be useful for navy p nvas. Tarpaulins, horse cloths, pack thread, Ac. The Oom> mittoe of the Chamber of Commerce have yet to pronpupoe judgment upon the discovery, and we sincerely wish Mr Forsyth success with bis venture,—l'touzrti Hoxdd, <•