Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-11
Paper In Japan.

WHEN . people contrive to make
saucepans, fine northumberland
and sailors waterproof overcoats out of
paper, they may be considered as having
pretty thoroughly mastered useful art |;
and this is demonstrated by the above
articles of Japanese manufacture, with
the additional little circumstance that
the saucepans are generally used over a
charcoal fire.
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 the third Christian
era About A. D. $50, paper was first
imported from the Corea, and, suppressed
ing the homemade fabrics, monopo-
lized the market until the year A. d. $40,
when the King of the Corea sent two
priests to Japan to establish the manu-
fscture. This paper was easily torn, and
liable to be destroyed by worms, and,
besides, did not take the ink well These
manifold disadvantages attracted the at
tention of Taishi, the son of the reigninr
Mikado, who substituted, as material.
the bark of species of paper-mulberr V
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 industry was commenced
which has since so prosperously contin-
ued.
At the present time two hundred and
sixty three sorts of paper are manufac-
tured in Yeddo. In regard to this i'm
mense number of styles, the national
love for formalities 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 men
tions four distinct kinds intended to be
exclusively used for poetry and songs.
There are also kinds enumerated as en-
ployed for umbrellas, hats, lanterns and
waterproof clothing, one being describei
as serving for candlewick and pocket
handkerchiefs, while another is intended
for handkerchiefs only, and a third is
used for dressing dolls. Special kinds
are prepared exclusively as wrappings
for the several styles of religious, civic or
social gifts.
The excellence in the manufacture is
due, in great degree, to the fact that
Jalan furnishes number of trees and
shrubs with fibrous bark particularly
adapted as material for paper, and sew
eral plants of which the roots, seeds or
sap weld 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 fiber, and it is ex-
tensively cultivated. The plants are
annually cut down to 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 a boiler. AS soon as the
bark begins to separate from the wood
il is stripped off by the hand, the wood
itself being preserved for fuel The
bark is then hoisted upon poles to dry
by exposure to the air, and when dry it
is separated into bundles weighing about
thirtytwo 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 an inferior kind of paper.
The remaining or inner portion is again
washed in running water, and, after
pressure under the heavy stones, the
fiber is boiled with ashes. After an
other washing it is well pounded and
then nodded into balls. These balls
are next thrown into wooden trough
and mixed with pulp, together with a
paste made from the root of the tororo,
a shrub somewhat resembling the cotton
plant. A portion of this pulp is next
placed in frame consisting of an inner
and an outer portion, 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 drying board, the
side adhering 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, q
glue is used made from young fern shoots
stained with the expressed juice of un
ripe persimmons. Colors are applied in
powder mixed with bean paste.
Several of the trees and, p ants used II
the manufacture of paper are described
as being the object of careful cultiva
ton, especially in the manuring anc
preparation of the soil-Arthur's HON
Mnnn1sn>