Fortunately for the Paper-trade, and its supply of materials in the future, two _raw fibrous substances_ exist, to which I now desire to direct special attention, as I believe it would be difficult, if not impossible, to meet with any others to compare with them in the essential points, of reliable supply at extremely low cost combined with quality. With this conviction I have devoted much attention to perfecting a simple and economical system of treating them, in order to produce a fibrous "_Paper-Stock_," considering _that_ to be the most practicable and best form in which they can be introduced into the Market. One of these materials, "MEGASSE," or "BEGASSE," fulfils the main conditions which would be looked for by the Paper-manufacturer, inasmuch as vast quantities are available at a low cost, and owing to the peculiarity of its production being the necessary by-product of a large and widely spread staple industry--Sugar--not subject to the ordinary irregularity of supply. "MEGASSE," the fibrous residue of the Sugar-Cane (after it has been crushed to extract the juice), properly prepared, affords a strong, nervous fibre, or "_Fibrous Stock_," which bleaches well, and possesses all the characteristics of a first-class Paper-making material. "MEGASSE" however, as it comes from the crushing rolls, and even when dried after crushing, is so exceedingly bulky, that (being produced almost exclusively in tropical countries) the cost of carriage added to its great liability to damage from fermentation, precludes the possibility of its being imported to England in its crude state; moreover, the true fibrous portion of "Megasse" does not amount to more than 40 per cent., the remainder being constituted of CELLULOSE, combined with glutenous and other compounds, which of themselves are useless for Paper-making, and which consequently must be separated from the residuary or ultimate fibre. It follows, therefore, that "MEGASSE" must be converted into a _Fibrous Stock_ at, or near, the Sugar factory where it is produced, then dried, and put up in hydraulic-pressed bales for economical transport. The present value of "MEGASSE" (in its crude condition as produced) is relatively to that of fuel, as, unless it is returned to the soil as manure (which is the practice in some countries), it is employed in the Sugar factories, for raising steam, for motive power, and for evaporating the Cane juice. As the value of "Megasse" thus considered is very low, factories established in connection with existing sugar mills for the manufacture of "_Paper-Stock_," where sufficient quantities of so bulky a material could be concentrated, and where other favourable conditions exist (of which an abundant supply of water is an essential), would yield a large profit to the planter or sugar manufacturer, as the "_Paper-Stock_" he would produce would meet with a ready sale at prices at least equivalent to "ESPARTO," reduced to the same condition.