FLAX COTTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 43, 13 March 1852, Page 3

FLAX COTTON.

The following description of the Chevalier j Claussen's mode of preparing flax for the purpose of manufacture is extracted from the " Times." The invention has excited the greatest interest among the agricultural and manufacturing classes in England, Scotland, and Ireland. "We think, at the sametime, that some more attention might be devoted to the flax plant of Xew Zealand, for the purpose of endeavouring, if possible, to find out the propei method of freeing it of the gummy substance which adheres to it. It is not unlikely that when the right process of cleaning and preparing it is arrived at, it will be pronounced, like many other experiments of a similar kind, to be of a very simple nature. The " Times" thus proceeds to detail M. Claussen's flax-cleaning process : —

"In order that the Chevalier Claussen's invention may be perfectly understood, it is requisite to explain as briefly as possible the structure of the flax plant, and the processes by which the fibre is at present prepared for spinning. One marked difference; between the fibre of flax and cotton is, that while the former presents, when seen through the microscope, along tubular form, the latter is flat and short. The former has felting qualities which cotton does not possess. Its specific gravity is also greater, and it possesses a glossy appearance. The consequence of all these differences is, that hitherto it has been found impracticable to spin them in the same machinery, or mix them in one fabric, so as to be stamped with the same colours. Again, in the preparation of flax for linen manufactures, a variety of processes have to be gone through arising from the structure of the plant. The fibre requires, by some means, to be separated from the other less valuable portions of the plant, with -which it is connected on all sides by a gummy deposit. In effecting this the Irish Flax Society recommend the use of Schenk's method of steeping, which it is unnecessary to explain further thaii that five days and nights are occupied thereby, and that the result is achieved by setting on foot a process of fermentation and decomposition, which at last liberates the fibre. The operations of drying, breaking, scutching, and bleaching follow, nearly all involving a certain amount of delay and great nicety in the management. Until they have been performed the flax is not fit for the spinners' use ; and in fact, from its bulk, is not in a convenient form to be conveyed any distance from the locality in which it is grown. 31. Claussen proposes to effect the required results by more expeditious and effectual means. He boils the flax straw for a short time in hot water, containing 1 1b. of soda to 2 cwt. of water. The liquor thus formed assumes the colour of porter, and at the end of about two hours, or two hours and a half, is allowed to run off. Having been washed out, the vats are again filled with water, and a weak solution of sulphuric acid thrown in. Wlxen the flax has been allowed to steep here for a short time, the gummy glutinous matter around the fibre has been completely disengaged, while the strength of the fibre, from the weakness of the chemical agencies used, is, as the Chevalier states, less impaired than if the separation had been effected by the slow proi cess of decomposition at present in practice. So far the nlan raouosed by the Chevalier is

rather an. improvement upon old methods than an original invention. If, after due trial, it turns out to be the best form of the steeping process as yet suggested, a very great benefit will have been conferred on the flax-grower and the linen manufacturer. But M. Claussen's patent embraces tlie design of converting flax into a cotton, to be used as a substitute for, or in combination with, the genuine produce of the cotton tree, and capable of being brought into the market at prices that will insure a good demand when foreign cotton is scarce, and be remunerative even when the supply is abundant. The general principle of the operation is the discovery of a chemical agency by which gases set free in the tubular fibres of the flax split them into shreds, whereby the distinction between the mechanical structure of flax and cotton is destroyed, and not only do they become applicable to the same machinery, but even the specific gravity of the two (formerly different) is equalized. The shining surface of flax fabrics can (M. Claussen says) at pleasure be removed, and the dull hue attained which clears away all difficulty as to mixing and printing. Not only so, but the inventoi claims the ability to mix his flax cotton with wool or silk, it being adapted for the one combination by possessing felting properties, and for the other by the bright smooth appearance which in cotton manufactures must be clone away with. The manner in which all this is effected is briefly as follows : — The fibre is first cut of the desired length ; it is then placed in a weak solution of common washing soda. After remaining there for a short time, until the tubular fibres are completely saturated, it is placed in a vessel containing a weak solution of sulphuric acid. Sulphate of soda is thus I formed, and the carbonic acid is driven off in I the form of gas, which, in making its escape I from the minute tubes of the fibres, splits them i up into shreds. From the solution of sulphuric j acid the flax, now become cotton, is again j plunged into the vessel containing soda, after resting in which for a short time it is dipped in a preparation which almost instantly bleaches it. This preparation is hypochlorite of manganese. When the fibre saturated with carbonate of soda is plunged into the solution of hypochlorite, the carbonic acid of the carbonate

of soda attacks the magnesia, and, forming carbona£e<>fmagnesia, the hypochlorus acid is set free. This acid at the moment of liberation acts as a powerful bleaching agent, and if it were allowed to remain long m contact with the fibre, or in great excess, -would injure its strength ;, but the soda from which the carbonic acid has been removed offers itself immediately as a base, and neutralizes all the acid which remains after the bleaching process is completed. M. Claussen thus economizes his bleaching liquid, the bicarbonate of soda, now formed being also a bleaching agent. The rapidity with which the whole of this experiment can be performed is truly astonishing, and the results were considered highly promising by the large meeting in presence of which the demonstration took place. M. Claussen exhibited specimens of his dressed flax, of his flax cotton, and of manufactures from it by itself, and mixed with cotton, wool, and silk. These were minutely examined by gentlemen whose experience qualified them to investigate such a subject, and no fault was found with the quality of the articles, while several spoke of them ins very laudatory terms."

The Wisdom of Providence. — "We never can too much admire the wisdom of Providence which, while man is left at liberty to change the country of his birth, and live under any meridian more desirable for his health or his comfort, has at the same time deprived him of all control over those laws of nature, on which depend the weather and the seasons, not adapting the state of the weather to the humour and caprices of each individual, but consulting (agreeably to that economy with which the universe appears to be governed) the general good and welfare of all. Thus shall we ever iind, that there is no evil, or apparent evil in life, which, if we only feel a deep conviction of the goodness of the Deity, may not be reconciled by a thousand consolatory considerations. We shall find there is scarcely 'an evil which if not attended by. or productive of, a corresponding good as a balance in the scale ; and the occasions in life will be found to be more numerous on which ye have reason to congratulate ourselves that things were not worse, than those on which we have to complain " things might have been better."