Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-01
M FORESTS
Method of Dressing FLAG without water rotf'ns or
RoiEDp

nature and properties OF those two textile
plants, the FAX and the hemp, and likewise OF
the spindle and the loom, NJ. La + crest found
out (Which is supposed 10 have remained unds-
| covered until now that both the external coat
and the internal faments OF the stem, are bound
by Two different kinds Of gummy substance;
that the external one, which binds the outward
coat or straw, is seperable and soluble in water;
that the other cannot be separated but IN the
form ofdust, and is not soluble in water. The
first he considers as gum or rosin, 10 the Sc
cond, which hecklers call oily essence or unc-
tuous tract, he gives the. more appropriate name
of gluten. This is perfectly insoluble, and is
found still remaining in the last and oldest rags
Of cloth. 1t has been fully ascertained that the
essential strength Of the filaments, of Soth the
hemp and the fax, consists exclusively IN this
gluten; and that j, has been enormously ascrlhed
to the gummy and muciagnous substance, by
which the external coat is bound his dis
covery has thrown quite new light on the prin-
| clple and process OF, what they Call demGgoSuc
ungumming This operation has been gener-
ally performed, TO this day, by sleeping the bun
dies of hemp and fax in either running or stag
nant water, bu, in the mistaken notion that the
length and strength Of the 6bres depended great
|
| being preserved, and that they may be impair
cd by protracted Sleeping, this operation OF
water rotting has been incom pletely mana ged;
and it could hardly be better managed, as too
short STEPPING was Inefficient, and protract-
ed one deleterious There was, besides, the
deadly nuisance Of poisoning the air and water.
The several attempts made TO substitute
chemical or mechanics process, for the old one
of, Had hoc
| they were generally impressed with the idea
that they should leave the greatest possible
proportion Of the gum adhering to the 6aments.
Hence reverted to their old method of sleeping,
fully convinced that no mechanical apparatus
could ever succeed without the assistance Of
chemistry.
Now, that an important distinction has been
made in the nature and essential properties OF
the gummy soluble substance and the unalter-
able gluten, the essential point consists in sepa-
rating the one from the other; diSsoving the
gum and, preserving the minutest particles Of
the gluten. The invaluable result has been OBJ
tanned by Nj. LA Forests discovery.
We have no drawing Of Nj. La Forests ma
chine: and what we know fits principles and
mode Of action is, that it untes the several pro-
cesses OF the former method, or rather their
combined effects, without any chemical prepar-
alton, wiihoa. he use Of water, or any system
of wheels rulers Of any kind, either plain or
fluted.-The Inventor calls his machine rural
mechanical break: and so simple is its construc-
ton, that any intelligent farmer could make
one for himself; it consists entirely of wood,
and its price does not exceed twenty dollars.
An association was formed for the purpose
CT propaga,ing the use of that beneficial ma
chine, and superceding the dangerous practice
OF water rottiag. At the head Of the list is the
pane of the Duke Of Orleans Government was
not backward in encouraging discovery, which
seemed to secure to France the merit Of having
solved the highly interesting problem Of the
dressing of fax and hemp by dry process. An
| exemption from the stamp duty, besides other
advantages, was granted to the inventor. The
public themselves, by far the most impartial S,
unexceptionablc Of juries, were enabled to Judge
of the effects, at least, Of this machine. At the
last exhibition Of the produce of national in
dustry in the Louvre, several bundles both of
hemp and flax were produced that had been
dressed by the dry process of the mechanical
break, their external appearance excluded the
possibility ofdeception and doubt.
The whole length of each stalk was divided
into three distinct parts, from the root upwards.
About FIVE inches of the thickest part, from the
| root, had the rind untouched and in lis raw s,
! natural state. The remainder Of the stalk was
divided into two almost equal parts;one of which
showed the preparatory working OF the break
on the stems and the rind that surrounds them.
They were actually stripped of their externa!
coat, or straw, the minute fragments of which
had been gathered, without any mixtures Of the
fibres offiax or hemp; they were kept in box.
| Nothing remained of the fbres but a thin inter
nal coating, in the shape oflong narrow stripes
still bound together by their gum. The other
and last part had these flaments entirely di-
vested Of their gummy mucilaginous matter,
and herbaceous pitch, which had been put in am
other box. They were separated throughout
the whole length, as they would have been by
| the finest heckle, showing their natural color,
and the whole Of their pure vegetable gluten.
They felt soft and silky to the hand. and requir-
cd no other preparation than to be actually
spun.
The experienced agriculluralists and manu-
| facturers who have examined the specimens Of
fax and hemp prepared by the new process a.
gree iD their opinions that the hlaments OF the
stalk are entirely stripped Of their gum, with
out any alteration Of their hbres; and have pre-
served greater degree of their strength and
| elasticity than could ever be expected from the
best managed water ro,ting; that there is be-
| sides in the whole preparation, saving Of at
least two.thirds Of the ordinary expense, indie