New white linen cuttings (from textile factories). New white cotton cuttings (from textile factories). Fine whites (domestic rags). Outshots (a quality between fines and seconds). Seconds (a grade inferior to fines). Thirds (inferior and dirty well-worn rags). Coloured prints (of all grades and colours). Fustians and canvas. Manila and hemp rope. Baggy, gunny, and jute. The total amount of rag used in England for paper-making is not known. The only figures available refer to rags _imported_; and these cannot be regarded as a measure of consumption, which could only be arrived at by first ascertaining the quantity of _home rags_ used. The imports of rag at stated periods are given in the appended table:-- RAGS IMPORTED INTO ENGLAND. --------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- -- | 1872. | 1882. | 1892. | 1902. | 1905. --------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- Weight (tons) | 22,254 | 21,200 | 23,032 | 18,692 | 23,681 | | | | | Value | £373,035 | £303,349 | £214,065 | £173,732 | £224,232 --------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+---------- _Sorting and Cutting._--All rags on arrival at the mill are carefully sorted. This process is conducted entirely by women, who sort and cut up the rags at special tables provided with cutting knives curved in shape similar to a scythe. These are fixed at an angle in the centre of the table, with the back towards and in front of each work-woman. The top of the table is made of thick coarse wire so that some of the dirt and foreign impurities may fall through. All buttons, hooks and eyes, pins, leather, pieces of rubber, and other articles are carefully removed, while seams and hems are also opened out. The rags are cut into slips 3-5 inches long and then recut crosswise, and thrown into suitable baskets or receptacles standing round the table, by which means the _sorting_ operation is effectually carried out. The care and attention given to the sorting is an important item in the manufacture of papers of uniform quality, and in the best mills the sorting is carried out to such an extent that twenty or twenty-five grades are obtained. [Illustration: FIG. 7.--A Rag Duster.]