(3) _Cost of Raw Material._--If the supply of material seems to be sufficient, and the paper pulp obtained possesses suitable qualities, then it is necessary to get accurate information as to the cost of the fibre delivered to some given spot at or near the place of collection. The exploitation of any new fibre for paper-making purposes will involve a recognition of the fact that the raw material must be converted into pulp at or near the place where the material is most abundant. The only interesting exception to this is the case of esparto fibre, which is imported into England in large amount, but this is only possible because esparto possesses most valuable paper-making qualities, and is obtained in countries close to England, where large quantities are consumed. It is doubtful whether other fibres could be utilised in the same way. (4) _The Cost of Manufacture_ at or near the place of collection requires to be carefully worked out, due consideration being given to the actual cost of chemicals on the spot, cost of labour, and the conditions under which the maintenance of machinery can be efficiently looked after. (5) _Carriage and Freight Charges_ are the last, but by no means the least, items of importance. It is not too much to say that the whole success of the exploitation of new paper-making fibre hangs entirely upon this item, the majority of many fibres which have been brought to the notice of the trade being suitable, but impracticable, solely on account of these and similar commercial considerations. In the pages of the trade press for the last few years the following fibres have been noticed:-- (1) _Flax Pulp._--This material was to be obtained from flax straw. Attempts were made on a commercial scale to produce quantities of flax fibre, but so far the efforts made have not been very successful. (2) _Ramie Fibre._--This material has been exploited over and over again, chiefly for textile trades, its application as a paper-making material being limited to small quantities used for special purposes such as bank notes. The fibre is too valuable, except for textile industries, and can only come into the paper trade as a waste material from such sources. (3) _Tobacco Fibre_ has been before the trade for some years, the idea being to utilise tobacco stems and other tobacco waste for the manufacture of paper suitable for use as wrappers for cigars, cigarettes, and similar purposes. (4) _Agave Fibre._--This name is given to a large and important genus of fibre-yielding plants found chiefly in Central America. It is also found in India, and in 1878 an experiment was made for the manufacture of paper at a mill near Bombay, but this did not give any satisfactory results, probably on account of the primitive methods used in treatment.