PROGRESS REPORT OF THE FLAX COMMISSIONERS. 9
solution, although, on the addition of large quantities, it turns the solution milky white. It is
precipitated by basic acetate of lead, chloride of tin, and by nitrate of mercury, but is not affected by
neutral acetate of lead. These reactions show that it is unlike any gum or mucilage hitherto known,
but that it has properties intermediate to both. As it occurs only on the outside of the leaves it is
easily removed by mechanical means, and does not give the slightest trouble in the present method of
preparing the fibre.

BITTER PRINCIPLE AND MUCILAGE.

These are contained in the cells of the leaf, along with chlorophyll, &c. It is well known that all
parts of the flax leaf have an intensely bitter taste; and when a bruised leave or broken tissue, knocked
off by the machine, is placed in water, this bitter principle is dissolved out, leaving little in the cells but
chlorophyll, or the green colouring matter. The solution is brown and turbid, but when filtered is of
a deep claret colour, and with a slight acid reaction. On evaporation it yields a thick reddish-brown
sticky gum, of bitter taste, and readily soluble in cold water. That this solution contains little or no
gum, similar to that found outside the leaf, is shown by its chemical reactions; for no change takes
place on the addition of alcohol, neither does any precipitate fall when nitrate of mercury is added, but
the solution is rendered turbid. On the addition of neutral acetate of lead, a large brown precipitate
is formed, leaving the solution clear and almost colourless. It is also precipitated by chloride of tin,
while the solution is left clear and golden yellow; and also by basic acetate of lead. No change takes
place on the addition of alkalies, but acids turn it yellow and slightly turbid. It is coloured black by
oxide or chloride of iron, owing perhaps to its containing some tannin. These reactions show that this
mucilage is essentially different from the gum. In its original state in the cells of the plant it is
colourless, but on exposure to water or moisture it rapidly turns reddish-brown, and stains the fibre;
it can, however, be entirely removed by soaking the fibre in running water for three or four hours. It
must not be confounded with the red colouring matter found in the butts of some leaves, for the two
are quite different, as I shall point out when discussing the advantages of soaking flax. The bitter
principle might perhaps be used as a dye or stain for wood, for on allowing a strong solution to stand
for some days, a brown insoluble substance falls to the bottom much in the same manner as indigo; and
if it should prove of any value at all, the cheap rate at which it could be prepared at or near the mills
ought to secure it an extensive sale.

CEMENT.

The ultimate fibres are held together by a cement which is quite different from either of the fore-
going. It is insoluble in cold water and acids, but dissolves slowly in boiling water, and more quickly
in alkalies. Pure soaked fibre, when boiled for three hours in water, yields a perfectly clear pale yellow
fluid, with an acid reaction but no bitter taste, and which on evaporation leaves a brownish gummy
substance, which is insoluble in alcohol or acids, but dissolves readily in alkalies or cold water. This
solution undergoes no change on the addition of alcohol, or of basic acetate of lead, acetate of lead,
nitrate of mercury, chloride of zinc, or perchloride of iron. On the addition of chloride of tin, a pale
yellow precipitate is formed, and the solution is left perfectly clear and colourless. Alkalies darken the
tint of the solution, but acids bleach it.

It is therefore evident that this cement differs entirely from either the gum or the mucilage, but
these differences will probably be made clearer to you if I bring together the effects produced by some
of the re-agents.

Alcohol has no effect on the mucilage, or the cement, but turns a solution of gum white.
Acids dissolve the gum, and turn the mucilage yellow. They do not dissolve the cement, but
bleach it.

Alkalies have no effect on the gum or the mucilage, but dissolve the cement and turn it yellow.
Acetate of lead has no effect on the gum or the cement, but precipitates the mucilage brown.
Nitrate of mercury has no effect on the cement, and only renders a solution of the mucilage turbid,
but precipitates the gum yellow.

We can now understand some of the results arrived at by Dr. Hector and Mr. W. Skey (Interim
Report on Flax, Appendix, pp. 10-13), as for instance the action of alkalies on the fibre, which
they showed always weakened it very much; for although they have no effect on the gum they dissolve
the cement which binds the ultimate fibres together, and so diminish their coherence; while acids,
although they dissolve the gum, do not affect the cement, and therefore do not injure the strength of
the fibre unless used in such quantities as to attack the ultimate fibres themselves, or the cement is
dissolved by the boiling water.

It will thus be seen that the strength of the fibrous bundles depends entirely upon the cement
that holds the ultimate fibres together; and if this is dissolved, either by hot water or alkali, the whole
would separate into a mass of fluff, with no coherence or strength, the fibres of which it was composed
being under half an inch in length.

Having now, I hope, given you a tolerably clear idea of the structure of the fibre of New Zealand
flax, and some knowledge of the gum, mucilage, and cement that are found in the leaf, I will next
inquire what are the probable uses to which the fibre can be applied, or, in other words, will it be
limited to the manufacture of rope and other articles where coarse fibres are used, or is it capable of
being worked up into the finer textile fabrics? I shall probably here be met with the statement that
this is already proved, as cambrics and drills have been produced from Phormium which rivalled the
finest flax in appearance, but at a cost that would not allow of its competing with the European article.
Such I know has often been stated, but I am not at all satisfied with the truth of those statements.
At the Dunedin Exhibition, in 1865, Mr. J. A. Smith, of Napier, exhibited "beautifully white
cambric," "white twilled stuff for cavalry trousers," and "sewing thread," all stated to be made from
Phormium fibre; and Mr. Murray, of Hull, quotes a Captain Harris that "it (Phormium) may be
woven into fabrics of any description, and made into lace." Still, however, I am not satisfied, for some
white drill, sent to me by Mr. T. Macffarlane, who had received it from Mr. Luke Nattrass, of Nelson,