The workingman's advocate., 1875-02-20

Japanese Paper Clothing.

In the Japanese exhibition ut the w
emma Exposition was displayed q remarka-
BILE variety Of objects of common use made
entirely from paper, the mode of manufac-
ture Of which has hitherto been unknown
out Of Japan. The articles included
handkerchiefs, napkins, garments, Ian
terms, umbrellas. and many others, all
made from a fabric noticeable for its
strength and solidIty.
A member Of the Gorman Society of
OrientAlists, M. Zappe. has recently ex-
planned the process by Whic' this paper is
produced. The material used is the bark
Of the Bro,asoRettd pdpyrltera or paper
mulberry, the same source from which the
natiues Of Polynesia derive their tapa
cloth and mats, though treated in an cs-
seutially different manner
The culture of the plant is quite simple.
Pieces Of root, some three inches in length
are placed in the earth so as to protrude
slightly shove the surface. These speedily
send forth roots, often Of nine inches in
length during the FIRST year, and increas-
ing threefold in size during the following
twelve months. BY the end Of the third
year, the plant attains height Of thirteen
feet, and by careful pruning is ever tually
brought to broad and strong shrub
In winter, hebranches are removed and
chopped in bits about two incles in length
which are boiled in water until the bark
comes of readily in the hand. Drying Of
the bark in the air for two or three days
follows; and after immersion in running
water for twenty-four hours, the material
is scraped on . cuI ting blade DO a. to sepa-
rate the two kinds Of fibers Of which it 10
composed. The exterior 6bers are Of dark
color. and are called "saru katra"; they
serve to make paper Of inferior quality.
The interior tilaments, knownas ''sOsorI
which are used for hne paper, are rolled in
balls weighing some thirty-6ve pounds
each. These are washed in running water
and left to soak for a short time, after
which they are removed and squeezed dry.
Boiling then follows, in lye made from
the ashes of buckwhest bran, care being
taken that the contents Of the watts are
constantly stirred. Another washing in
water removes all remaining impurities,
and the 6bers are then pounded, for
twenty minutes at time, upon blocks OF
hard wood. They are finally msssed into
balls, and these, by ordinary means, made
into pulp. Into the latter q small prVpOr
ton Of liquid extracted from the root Of
the hebiOus manihot is mixed, and . guam
tity of rice water, to prevent the ravagea
of insects. The subsequent using of the
pulp Ia similar to the usual process Of
paper-making.
Leather paper, 90 called, is made by the
superposition Of several sheets Of the ma
terial previously soaked in an oil derived
from the yonokO (cellis WiIdenoriana), sub
jected to strong pressure, and lastly covered
with shellac. Clothing is made from Z
paper called "shefa," which ia cut int
threads more or less fine according to the
fabric to be produced. These are twisted
by the fingers, previously moistened with
milk Of lime, and are woven into clotf
either alone or with silk. The stuff can b,
washed, and in of great strength and dura
bility. Paper crepe, 80 called by tn,
French from its having the wrinkled sp
pearance of Grape, is produced by moisten
ing the sheets and pressing them unde
rollers having suitable corrugations OF
their periPheries. s.-Seientysc Anssrican.