iS MODERN PAPER-MAKING
Mention must be made of the several grades of Continental rags, which
find their way in large quantities into the stores of the rag merchants of this
country, and are sometimes used to 'adulterate' the home-produced article.
These consist for the most part of white cottons of several grades, which
correspond roughly in order of precedence to English second fines, outshots
and white seconds. They are less clean, less consistent in quality, less strong,
and they invariably contain more rubber than the English grades, and they
are consequently less expensive in first cost.
Old Light Prints are imported in large quantities, but the packings vary
considerably, even from the same source, and are less dependable even than
the English grades.
Unfortunately, these prints are frequently mixed with home-produced rags,
and almost always they reduce the general quality of the consignment.
Continental white linen rags are, however, of great value, and form an
important raw material. They are composed chiefly of home-spun clothing
of a grey colour, always-well worn, and varying in coarseness of texture from
rough 'sacking* to a fine linen cloth.
The chief trouble encountered with these rags is shive, or the outer bark
of the flax plant, which has not been properly removed in the 'retting5 pro-
cess. The presence of a large quantity of this reduces the value of the rags
so far as strength is concerned—and it is for strength that they are used—as it
means more caustic soda and more prolonged boiling than would otherwise
be required.
Nevertheless, these linens are often a welcome addition to the furnish on
account of the great scarcity and consequent high price of English linens.
General—The quality of rags obtained in any district reflects to a remark-
able degree the prosperity or general habits of the inhabitants. Rags from
prosperous seaside towns, or fashionable health resorts, are always far superior
to those from poor industrial areas. Scotch rags are generally better than
English rags, and country rags are cleaner than those collected in London and
other large cities,
Old Strong Rags.—These consist of linens and cotton canvas in various forms,
and the consignments contain a mixture of each.
Linen sail-cloths from the seaports are, as a rule, in large and often unwieldy
pieces* difficult for the women, to cut up into strips. They are very hard,
contain many 'eyes', often lined with metal rings, are covered with tar, pitch
and paint, and have hard edges bound tightly with tarred string. The con-
traries consist chiefly of those things mentioned above, which have to be cut
out.
This canvas requires a high percentage of caustic soda and prolonged