In Fig. 472, is seen a machine which is used for splitting rattans.
One of its chief advantages is, that it produces from the centre of each cane a, a perfectly round and even rod c, of considerable value for making orna mental window blinds, fancy baskets, chairs, &c.; whereas with the old fashioned method of hand splitting, tbis core is sacrificed, in order to obtain the strips of outer surface. The cane is carried past the hollow cutter by revolving feed rollers, other rollers being placed beyond the cutter, for drawing out the central core. The cutter is so constructed that it divides the cane at one passage into any desired number of strips b, at the same time removiog the central core c. The rate of feed is 150 ft. a minute ; by simply changing the cutter, the cane can be cut into strips of any desired width. A great improvement consists in the feed rollers being arranged to work horizontally ; the strip's of cane as they leave the cutter are thus easily collected. The machine weighs about 7 cwt., requires only I horse-power, makes 200 revolutions a minute, and costs about 55/. It is made by Messrs. Ransomes, of Chelsea, from the designs of Mr. John Fisher, of Mincing-lane and Singapore, who has secured patent rights for its application in the Straits Settlements, tbe headquarters of the export trade in canes.
For making the seats of chairs and similar work, an industry whith consnines probably half the rattans imported into this country, the selected canes should be lung, of bright pale-yellow colour, small size, and not liable to break. All such EIS are dark coloured and snap short on bending should be rejected. Four pounds of rough rattan are required to yield one pound of strips for cane work. A large quantity of cane is now used, RS ft cheap substitute for whalebone, in umbrella and parasol ribs; a set of cane ribs for the former costs only 21d.; and for the latter, id. to Id.; while whalebone amounts to 2s. 6d. or 3s. The siliceous exterior of the cane cannot be dyed ; but the cores used for ribs, as described, may be stained any colour. They are usually dyed black by log wood and sulphate of iron. They range in size from that of a pin wire to the full dimensions of the cane. In saddlery and harness making, and in all. kinds of wickerwork, rattans are now much employed. The helmets of the German army are made sword-proof by a lining of cane wicker work. The lightness, strength, and cheapness of the material make it eminently fit for this purpose, and the idea is worthy of being copied in ouk own military and police fore,es.
The waste produced in peeling the canes by hand, as is still done in Belgium, is known as crin vegetal, and is utilized EIS Et fibre for filling mattresses, for making mats, for ties and bands used in agriculture, and as a substitute for hay snd straw packing. Mattresses stuffed with this substance
are in great favour on the Continent, and are much used in the hospitals of Antwerp and other large towns. They are always sweet and pleasant, and are sold wholesale at as little as 4d. to 8d. each.
Large as the consumption of cane now is, it was only in the early part of this century that importation first took place, and it is hut very recently that canes have formed any considerable itern in the commerce of the country. A very large trade is now carried on with Western Europe and the United States, tbe principal centres of export being Batavia, Sarawak, Singapore, Penang, and Calentla. Statistics concerning the production, exports, and imports of canes are very scattered and disjointed. In 1870, we received more than 241 million rattans from Singapore, and 81 millions from other places, besides about 6 million other canes and sticks, of the aggregate value of 83,841/. About 60,000 bundles of 100 each are annually imported into Liverpool alone. The estimated yearly consumption in Europe, the East, and America, is upwards of 25,000 tons. The export of cane matting from China to the United States alone is more than 10,000 rolls of 40 yards each per annum ; but these figures probably include other canes besides rattans. From Java are exported about 80,000 to 90,000 piculs, of 12 bundles each, a year. About half of these are imported by the Dutch Tiading Company, and the remainder by private merchants. In 1875, the exports nom Java were about 79,000 cwt., principally to Holland, the Channel for orders, and America. The ruling price was 12 to 14 florins (of ls. 8d. each) a picul (1331 lb.). The quantity exported from Java, in 1876, WRS about 73,000 cwt.; and the value of the rattans sent out of Borneo in the sarne year was 9854/. The Java exports, from lst July, 1876, to end June, 1877, were 41,184 piculs ; in the following twelve months they were reduced to 27,989 piculs ; viz. to Holland, 13,839; Channel, 10,606 ; America, 2337 ; Denmark, 400 ; China, 259 ; Port Said for orders, 194; Cadiz for orders, 157; Lisbou, 130 ; Australia, 49 ; France, 18. This reduction was owing to the depression in prices in Europe and America, which ruled about as follows :—Padang, 13 to 8 fl. a pieta ; Banjarmassing, 12 to 10 fl. ; fine long kinds, 14 fl. to 15 fl.