In one of the machines patented, the paper is cut into sheets of any desired length, placed upon a table, and the edges adjusted for folding. To insure corresponding action throughout, the motions of various parts of the machine are taken from the cylinder which car ries the knife.
Others of these machines cut the pa per and drop it upon rods, over which it bends and hangs preparatory to folding.
The manufacture of the paper being thus completed, the sheets are nrately examined, and every knot or blemish carefully removed, the torn or damaged ones being laid apart. In this state they are subjected to the action of a powerful press, in the full and open size of the sheet : they are afterwards cut round the edge, and then counted into quires of twenty-four sheets, which are folded in the middle, and put into reams, each ream containing twenty quires, of which the two on the outside are made up of twenty sheets each, from the damaged sheets that were thrown out. In this state they are again pressed, and finally tied up in wrappers.
India paper.—The material employed by the Chinese is the liber, or interior bark of a sort of mulberry, commonly called the paper-tree, and known to botanists under the name of &roussonetia papyrifera. Kempfer has described the process pursued in China in the manu facture of this paper. Dr. Postans re cently has described the material as the coarse hempen bagging used by the be-inqarries, when torn to rags in their service. These are cut, and well washed in tanks, near Kivzapone, in the Deccan. They are then bleached and dried: in twelve days they are converted into a pulp, which is then made into 4 lb. balls, about as big as a man's head. These are afterwards 'wet with water, and into paper on a frame made of fine reeds, A man and a boy make the sheet, and a third man removes them, who first presses them under large stones to dry them, and then plasters them against the walls of the room to dry them. It is then coated with gum size, and polished with stones.
Ricepaper.—The substance called in rice paper," is made of the branch of the rice plant in China.
Mr. Gill remarks, that the Chinese " rice paper" is an organized vegetable production, much resembling, in its structure, the pith of elder. He thinks cylindrical pieces of elder or other pith might be found in any country, quite large enouga to bear slicing in this man ner; and which slices, after being flatten ed by pressure between plates (possibly warmed or heated) might serve as sub stitutes; and be as capable of receiving any colors.
Paper from the husks of Indian corn.— To 128 gallons of water put 10 quarts of good lime, or about 6 lbs. of good alkali, and place therein about 110 lbs. of clean corn-husks or flag-leaves. Let the water be moderately heated over a gentle fire, for two hours, when they will be ready for the engine, there to be worked, and managed, in every respect, as rags are for making paper.
Straw paper.—Take any quantity of straw, hay, or other vegetable sub stances, and boil it in a solution or ley of pot or pearl-ash, or other alkali or lime, in the following proportions, viz., to 115 lbs. of straw, hay, or other vegetable substance, add from 15 lbs. to 20 lbs. of the salts or ley of pot or pearl ash, or other alkali of lime, and boil them about 80 minutes, or steep the materials in the solution a few days, or until saturated, then draw off the water, and put them into a common eneine, to be manufac tured into paper, like rags.
Paper from wood.—Anv wood may be reduced to shavings, which are thrown into a caldron of water, and set to boil. To every 100 lbs. of shavings, from 12 lbs. to 18 lbs. of any vegetable or mineral alkali (according to its strength) are to be added. 100 lbs. of wood will make from five to seven reams of paper.
Paper linen or papier tinge, consists of paper made to resemble damask and other linen so closely, that it is impossi ble, without examination, to detect the difference : and, even to the tench, the articles made from the papier Tinge are very much like linen. The price is very low : a napkin costs only one cent ; and, when they are soiled, they are taken back at half price. A good-sized table cloth sells for 20 cents, and for the same price in sold a roulean of paper, with one or two colors, for papering rooms, or for bed-curtains.
Oiled paper. Dr. Faraday, in his ad mirable volume on manipulations, states that hydrogen gas may be made with zinc, and lute sulphuric acid in oiled paper, and conducted through paper tubes to a basin, as a trough, and re ceived in oiled paper tubes. Also, that the steam of a tea-kettle may be con veyed in oiled paper tubes, so as to heat a steam-bath itself of oiled paper.
Paper tubes, to convey hot air, carbonic acid, or coal gas, may be made by rolling a sheet of paper, and tying it with thread. Gum, or paste, at the edges, makes it air tight, especially if varnished and corked.
Iraxed paper.—Lay it on a clean hot plate, and rub it with was tied in muslin.
Paper-hangings are in pieces of 12 yards long, by 20 inches wide, and print ed by wooden blocks, with great rapidity. It is to be regretted that the splendid scenes and varied colors of French paper hangings are not imitated elsewhere. S;a-grass paper.-1, All rocks, roots, and shells, to be carefully separated from the grass. 2, The dust to be cleared from it, by beating it. 3, To be steeped in lime water, in order to discharge the salt from it, and thus prevent decomposition. 4, To be partially pulverized, and then bleached perfectly white by oxv-mnriate of lime. 5, To be made into pulp in the usual manner, by beating, or in a paper engine .