PROGRESS REPORT OF THE FLAX COMMISSIONERS. 15

wish it to be understood that I have only told my present opinions, which are quite liable to change,
for I well know much remains yet to be learnt. But if I have helped to distinguish between the New
Zealand flax plants, which produce fibre of such different quality, or if I have helped to dispel
any illusions as to the uses to which Phormium fibre can be applied, or if I have helped to bring
the process of soaking in running water into more general use, I shall be satisfied.

NOTES on Captain HUTTON'S LECTURE ON FLAX, by WILLIAM SKEY, Government Analyst.
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 17th September, 1870.]

In this interesting and valuable lecture, embodying as it does so much of the practical experience of
one occupying the position of a large manufacturer of this fibre, and who is, besides, well qualified by
scientific training to observe and to pass opinion upon such a subject, there occur in those portions of
it bearing upon the structure of the plant, and the nature of its predominating principles, one or two
statements which are, I think, neither supported by the evidence adduced for them in the question,
nor can be by any that we are able to gather elsewhere.

With all proper respect, therefore, for Captain Hutton, and with a high appreciation of this
lecture generally, I beg to remark upon these statements for the purpose of having them either
corrected or substantiated, as nothing would tend to throw us so far back from the attainment of
excellence in the manufacture of this fibre as erroneous or uncertain opinions in regard to these points,

It will be remembered that Captain Hutton, for the especial purposes of his lecture, distinguishes three
or four principles out of the many occurring in this plant; and it is in relation to the chemical
properties and reactions he assigns to one or two of those, and especially to the supposed identification
of a cement he affirms to exist round the fibres of the plant, that my remarks will mainly apply.

The first principle discussed there is the gum, and of this he asserts, from the result of experi-
ments he describes, that "it is unlike any gum or mucilage hitherto known;" but this is scarcely borne
out by the actual results of the experiments instanced, for it does certainly comport itself with all
those re-agents specified by Captain Hutton, precisely as does common gum or gum-arabic.

Captain Hutton does indeed state that this gum (flax gum), when dissolved in water, is not pre-
cipitated by alcohol, a statement which, if correct, would certainly place it in a very different chemical
group to that which common gum occupies; in fact, it would not be a gum at all, but rather a resin
or something nearly assimilating.

It appears from my own experiments, however, that flax gum is precipitated from its aqueous
solution by alcohol, and completely, but only if the proportion of alcohol largely preponderates over
that of the water retaining it in solution; hence this gum does not differ from others in respect to
its comportment with this re-agent.

The next series of Captain Hutton's chemical experiments was performed upon the contents of the
cells, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the mucilaginous substance.

Under the heading "Bitter Principle and Mucilage," the results of these are detailed; from
which Captain Hutton infers that the "mucilage is essentially different from the gum" occurring on
the outside of the leaf.

In many respects, however, the reactions are precisely the same as those that are given for this gum;
indeed, it is only in regard to its refusal to form precipitates with alcohol and nitrate of mercury, as
stated by Captain Hutton, and also its behaviour with neutral acetate of lead, that it appears to mani-
fest any difference to the gum.

But upon repeating these experiments I find that decided precipitates do form when either alcohol
or nitrate of mercury are added to this extract in quantity; while, in reference to the precipitate formed
with neutral acetate of lead, this is no doubt caused by the presence of the bitter principle alluded to,
and there certainly appears to be nothing left among these statements to establish or support any
difference between the outer gum of the leaf and the gummy or mucilaginous substance in the cells.

But were these results stated correctly, they would still be of little use, from the circumstances
under which they were obtained.

The whole case may shortly be stated as follows:-Two principles, not to mention others, are
taken, the properties of neither of which we are perfectly acquainted with. Various re-agents are
added to their aqueous solution, and from the reactions manifested is drawn the conclusion that
one of these is "essentially different" from some member of its own group occurring, as it happens,
in the same plant, and almost in absolute juxtaposition with it. But how do we know what reactions
are due to the one and what to the other, or whether some may not be owing to the interaction of these
principles themselves upon each other, in presence of the powerful re-agents used.

Clearly the results would be much more valuable and reliable if the several tests were applied to
each principle, or at least to each predominating principle separately.

This separation might easily have been effected by means of alcohol, as the bitter principle is
soluble in this menstruum (see page 8), while it is a distinguishing character of all gums or
mucilages that they are insoluble therein.

In reference to the true character of the mucilaginous portion of this extract, I am inclined to
think it is merely the ordinary flax gum in its normal state-that is, as originally produced by the plant;
while the bitter principle associated with it in the cells is allied to the soluble resins.

I now arrive at a part which I experience some hesitation in discussing, as to do this properly
requires an acquaintance on my part with the intricacies of vegetable structures which I do not
possess.

Captain Hutton assumes the presence of a cementing substance in the flax by "which the ultimate
fibres are bound together in bundles." To me, these ultimate fibres seem quite free and clear of each
other upon their longitudinal surfaces, if only they are taken fresh from the plant and kept moist.

However, the determination of this microscopically I leave for others, and I proceed to discuss the
supposed chemical identification of this cement. Captain Hutton affirms that "the pure soaked fibre,
when boiled for three hours in water, yields a pale yellow fluid, with an acid reaction but no bitter
taste, which on evaporation leaves a brownish gummy substance, insoluble in alcohol or acids, but
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