The annual consumption of rags in this country alone far exceeds 120,000 tons, three-fourths of which are imported, Italy and Germany furnishing the principal supplies. That the condition in which the rags are imported furnishes any criterion of the national habits of the people from which they came, as has been frequently asserted, however plausible in theory, must, at least, be received with caution. But that is by no means important. The specimen of printing paper, No. 21, was manufactured from a selection far from cleanly; in fact, there was not a white rag employed, while even fustians, corduroy, and coloured rags formed a considerable proportion. In considering the various processes or stages of the manufacture of paper, we have first to notice that, of carefully sorting and cutting the rags into small pieces, which is done by women; each woman standing at a table frame, the upper surface of which consists of very coarse wire-cloth; a large knife being fixed in the centre of the table, nearly in a vertical position. The woman stands so as to have the back of the blade opposite to her, while at her right hand on the floor is a large wooden box, with several divisions. Her business consists in examining the rags, opening the seams, removing dirt, pins, needles, and buttons, of endless variety, which would be liable to injure the machinery, or damage the quality of the paper. She then cuts the rags into small pieces, not exceeding four inches square, by drawing them sharply across the edge of the knife, at the same time keeping each quality distinct, in the several divisions of the box placed on her right hand. During this process, much of the dirt, sand, and so forth, passes through the wire-cloth into a drawer underneath, which is occasionally cleaned out. After this, the rags are removed to what is called the _dusting machine_, which is a large cylindrical frame, covered with similar coarse iron wire-cloth, and having a powerful revolving shaft extending through the interior, with a number of spokes fixed transversely, nearly long enough to touch the cage. By means of this contrivance, the machine being fixed upon an incline of some inches to the foot, the rags, which are put in at the top, have any remaining particles of dust that may still adhere to them effectually beaten out, by the time they reach the bottom.