Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-04

PAPER IN JAPAN.-When people contrive to
make saucepans, fine pocket handlcrchels and
sailors waterproof overcoats out of paper, they
may be considered as having pretty thoroughly
mastered the subject-and this is claimed for
the Japanese manufacture in paper, with the
addition that the Saucepaus are generally used
over charcoal fires.
According to their own account these ancient
islanders wrote upon silk faced with linen and
also used very thin wOod-shavings for the same
purpose until nearly the close Of the third century
OF the Christian era About A. ID. $50, paper
was first imported from the Corea, and super
seding the home made fabrics mOuopolizcd the
market until the year A. ID. 6t0, when the king
of Corea sent two priests to japan TO establish
the manufacture. This paper was easily torn
and liable to be destroyed by worms and be-
sides did not take the ink well. These manifold
disadvantages attracted the attention of Taishi,
the son of the reigning mikado, who substituted
as material the bark Of species of paper-mul-
berry, which is still extensively cultivated for
| the purpose. BY Taishi's orders the tree was
| planted throughout the country, the method of
| manufacture publicly taught, and thus the in
| duStry was commenced which has since 50 pros
| perouSly continued.
AT the present time 2G3 sorts of paper are
manufactured in Yeddo. In regard to this i'm
mcnSe number of STYLES, the national love for
tormalitieS must be considered; as, for instance
in addition to the usual varieties to which we
are accustomed as appropriate for deeds, public
documents, letters, notes, etc, the Japanese list
mentions four distinct kinds intended to be eX-
cluSlYely used Tor poetry and songs. There are
also KINDS enumerated as employed for umbrel-
las, hats, lanterns, and waterproof clothing; one
being described as serving for candle wick and
pocket handkerchieIs, while another is intended
for handkerchefs only, and third is used for
dressing dolls. Several kinds are prepared eX-
clusively as wrappngs for several kinds of re
ligious, civic or social gifts
The excellence of the manufacture is dup i'm
a great degree, to the fact that Japan furnishes
a number of trees and shrubs with fbrouS
bark particularly adapted as a material for
paper; and several plants, of which the roots,
seed, or sap, yield a natural size for the surface
Of the sheet.
The species Of mulberry first used in the
seventh century is still regarded as containing
the best fibre, and it is extensively cultivated.
The plants are annually cut down 10 the root
until the fifth year, when, by this treatment the
| wood has become dense and strong. The
branches are then cut into lengths of about one
| yard, and steamed in straw vessel over boil
| er. As soon as the bark begins TO separate from
| the wood it is stripped off by the hand, the
| wood itself being preserved for fuel. The bark
| is then holsted upon poles to dry by exposure
to the air, and when dry it is separated into bun
| dies weighing about thirty-two pounds each
| The dry bark is then immersed in running water
| for twelve hours, after which the outer husk or
| bark is scraped off to serve as the material for
hu lhlSilOi hluu VI paper. Inc remaining OF III
ner portion is again washed in running water,
| and after pressure under heavy stones, the fibre
| is boiled with ashes. After another washing, il
| is well pounded and then nodded into balls.
These balls are next thrown into a wooden
| trough, and mixed with a pulp together
with paste made from the root of the Tororo
| "a shrub somewhat resembling the cotton
| plant. portion of this pulp is next placed in
a frame, consisting of an inner and outer por-
ton, with false bottom of plated bamboo. A
| deXterous and peculiar jerk from the skilled
operator sets the pulp in the frame, and it is
then so placed as to permit the water to drain
off. The sheet of paper is lifted from the frame
with piece Of bamboo, and laid with brush
on a drying board, the side adheriDg to the
board forming the face of the paper.
The paper warranted to wash" is made with
another kind of paste; and in the oil paper for
waterproof clothes, a glue is used made from
| young fern shoots stained with the expressed
| juice of unrpe persimmons. Colors are applied
| in powder mixed with bean paste.
Several of the trees and plants used in the
manufacture of paper are described as being the
object of careful cultivation, especially in the
manuring and preparation Of the soil.