Dr. Collyer's new machine, as made by Sam. Lawson and Sons, Hope Foundry, Leeds, is shown in Fig. 646. It should be studied in comparison with the various forms of breaking-machine, illustrated further on in this article, under Linum usitatissimum (Flax). The four fluted rollers are in a rocking-frame, and oscillate over the cylinder, which has a constant slow movement forward, to determine the rate of delivery. The machine is powerful, and is reputed to be oapable of dealing with 1 ton of green stems an hour, yielding si per cent. of clean fibre.
Characters and Uses of the Fibre.—The stems of the different varieties of the plant have the same outward appearance ; .their diameter varies from in. to in., they are covered with a brown epidermis, are very light, and contain a large proportion of pith. A section of the bark of the stem, magnified 100-fold, is seen in Fig. 647. The bark is relatively thin, and seems to consist of three layers :—The first includes the epidermis e, and a thin line of brown matter, representing the chlorophyl of the fresh plant ; next comes a thicker layer, almost entirely composed of bast fibres f, associated in little independent groups ; the third layer, resting on the cambium c, consists of parenchyma, often coloured brown, in which appears a second series of bast fibres f ; the cells of this layer contain an abundance of crystals ; b, woody fibre. The bast fibres , are ooloured blue by test the larger ones, in the second layer, exhibiting a bright yel low tint in the centre. The shape of the latter is well shown in the illustration.
The length of the fibres varies from 2.36 in. to in., and even in.; the mean diameter is about in., sometimes reaching in. Examined under test F, they reveal very irregular forms and dimensions. One portion of a cell may be solid, smooth, or finely striated, showing an internal channel, empty, or partially filled with granulated matter ; further on, the fibre enlarges, the walls appear thin, and the channel very large ; elsewhere again, it occurs as a mere ribbon, flattened and very wide. The texture is fibrous, and the fibrils composing the walls have a very evident spiral disposition. Fig. 648 represents the appearance of the fibres, magnified 300-fold :—a, section of a bundle of fibres ; b, a fibre seen longitudinally ; c, ends. Ex amined under tests C D F, the fibres are coloured blue or violet, and appear clean and isolated. Some aro solid, and their internal canal is filled with a granulated substance, coloured yellowish brown. Others are wider, with relatively thin sides, the interior partially occupied by the granu lated matter. Nearly all are covered with fine striations, disposed parallel to the axis, or spirally.
On many fibres, are fine transverse lines of deeper colour, crossing each other in various directions, and giving a sort of marbledlluppearance.
The inherent physical properties of the fibre place it in a pre-eminent position. In strength, it is second to no vegetable fibre, and in some trials it has proved to be more than twice as strong as Russian hemp (Cannabis sativa). It also presents unusual resistance to the effects of moisture and other climatic con ditions, to judge by the slight action of high-pressure steam upon it.
Samples of the fibre, exposed for 2 hours to steam at about 2 atmos.
pressure, boiled in water for 3 hours, and again steamed for 4 hours, lost Oily per cent.; while flax lost 3.50 per cant. ; Manilla hemp, New Zealand flax, ; hemp, and jute, per cent. At the same time, the finenesa of the fibre places it ordinarily before flax, though, according to the method of cultivation, it varies from an extreme degree of attenuation, equalled only by the pine-apple fibre. While in strength, resistance, and fineness, it equals or surpasses the best-known fibres, it possesses a silky lustre, shared only by jute, which is by far its inferior in strength and durability. On the other hand, must bo mentioned the peculiar hairiness of the fibre, which, while enabling it to combine readily with wool, renders it difficult to spin, on account of its stiffness and brittleness interfering with the twist, and rendering the yarn rough, despite the silky smoothness of the individual filaments.
Tho combination of qualities exhibited by the fibre endow it with affinities to other fibres, both animal and vegetable, which favour a wide range of application. During the cotton famine, it was tried as a substitute, or for mixing purposes, being first cut into lengths of 2 in., and treated with alkalies and oil. Fabrics made with equal proportions of the fibre and Egyptian and Indian cotton gained in strength and gloss, and offered no difficulty in spinning and weaving; they also took dyes as well as Egyptian and American cotton, and better than Indian cotton, a little modification of the mordant, and of the strength of the vat, being necessary with a few colours. Such an applica tion, however, permits no advantage to be taken of the prominent qualities of the fibre—length, strength, and lustre. Moreover, the relative prices of the two fibres now scarcely admit of such an admixture, especially when taking into consideration the cost of the treatment of the Aehmeria fibre, and the loss of 25 per cent. by weight which occurs.