Flax.

Manawatu Herald, 19 November 1898, Page 2

Flax.

The trial of the process invented by Mr Gillman, chemist, Onehunga, for dressing New Zealand flax, is to be held at Featherston at the end of (fee present week. The Agricultural Department, which is bearing the cost of the trial, will be represented by Mr Robert Gardner, one of the FlajKBonus Commissioners, who will conduct the trial, and who intends to treat at least a ton of green fibre. The Flax Bonus Commissioners in their report on the various appliances and processes brought under their notice, reported as follows in reference to Mr Gillman's method of treatment : — " The process, if not a success, is tending, we think, in that direction. The plant he has is primitive in conr struction and could not produce for us a sufficient quantity to justify our expressing an opinion on it. He boils the green leaf for four hours *in arsenicated water, then passes it between a pair of smooth roller the effect being the release of the fibre from the enveloping green pulpy vegetation, leaving a slight trace of greenness of colour. This greenness could easily be got rid of by either open-air or chemical bleaching. The point here is the action of arsenic upon the flqjc to retain after boiling the strength JH^

the fibre and fair colour. The afterprocess is a light scutch or brush to remove the loose vegetation. The quantity of tow made will be very trifling." Hitherto the cost of chemicals and the dark colour left in the fibre have prevented chemicals being used. Mr Gillman, however, has nearly annihilated the cost 'of chemicals, and has left a healthy colour. This is the result of many years experimenting."—" Post "