The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 76
31A, Spring Gardens, Manchester, 6th January, 1898
6th January, 1898.
Dear Sir,—
Enclosed please find sample of ramie treated under our process. The sample is very fine and soft, and procured from the raw bark with a loss of about 30 per cent., and at a very small cost in treatment. It can be produced with a longer staple and not quite so fine a count at a loss of about 20 percent.—that is, from the raw to the heckled. Kindly compare this with other processes, under which you will find a loss of from 50 per cent, to 75 per cent., and the fibre left not so soft and pliable.
The advantages claimed for this treatment of ramie and rhea are—(1) Cheapness; (2) the non-injury to the fibre; (3) the procuring of a longer staple after heckling, and the adaptability to flax and other long-staple machinery; (4) after decortication, when in the ribbon state, it can be prepared for the market on the plantation, where water is convenient.
Other stalks and leaf-fibres can be prepared for the market by this method.
Yours, &c.,
J. Holmes
, Esq.William Parkinson
.