Overview:
This 1921 text offers a fascinating glimpse into the jute industry, providing a detailed account of the production process, from cultivation to finished goods. The authors, Thomas Woodhouse and Peter Kilgour, delve into the history of jute’s rise, highlighting its importance during World War I. They also emphasize the crucial role of Bengal’s unique geographical conditions in supporting the successful cultivation of the jute plant. The text details the various processes involved in transforming the jute fiber into yarn and cloth, covering topics like batching, carding, drawing, roving, spinning, and weaving. It sheds light on the different types of jute fabrics, including hessian, bagging, tarpauling, and sacking, and briefly touches upon the more complex production of carpets. The text concludes with a description of the finishing processes, including cropping, damping, calendering, mangling, and the various methods used for bag making.
Key Findings:
- Jute’s strategic importance: The text reveals jute’s vital role during World War I, emphasizing its use in producing millions of sandbags and protective materials for military purposes.
- Bengal’s ideal conditions: The authors explain the unique geographical conditions of Bengal, including its alluvial soil and consistent rainfall, that make it the perfect location for jute cultivation.
- From fiber to cloth: The text provides a detailed explanation of the numerous steps involved in converting jute fiber into yarn and cloth, highlighting the intricate machinery and skillful labor employed in the process.
- Variety of jute products: The text explores the wide range of products manufactured from jute, showcasing the diverse uses of this versatile fiber, from common hessian cloth to intricate carpets.
- Shifting from hand labor to mechanized mills: The text describes the gradual shift in the jute industry from traditional hand-based methods to the use of modern, mechanized mills, particularly in India.
Learning:
- Jute’s global significance: The text allows readers to understand the global importance of the jute industry, tracing its history from its origins in India to its global reach.
- The intricate manufacturing process: Readers gain a deeper understanding of the complex and multi-step process involved in transforming jute fiber into yarn and cloth, appreciating the technical details and skilled labor required.
- The diverse applications of jute: Readers learn about the wide variety of products manufactured from jute, understanding its versatility and widespread use in various industries.
- The evolution of the jute industry: Readers gain insights into the evolution of the jute industry, from hand-based methods to the adoption of modern machinery and factory systems.
Historical Context:
The text was written in 1921, a period of significant change and growth for the jute industry. This context is evident in the authors’ discussion of the industry’s post-World War I expansion, the increasing adoption of mechanized mills, and the growing global demand for jute products.
Facts:
- Jute was practically unknown in Britain 100 years prior to 1921.
- Jute has been used in India for centuries to make cord, twine, and coarse fabrics.
- Jute is indigenous to India.
- Dr. Roxburgh and the East India Company introduced jute to Britain.
- The first small consignment of jute fibre arrived in Dundee in 1822.
- Dundee was an important textile center for flax and hemp before jute became popular.
- Jute fibre differs significantly from hemp and flax, necessitating modifications in manufacturing processes.
- The Dutch Government placed large orders for jute bags in 1838, boosting the industry’s growth.
- The British imports of jute fibre increased from 28,000 tons in 1850-51 to 46,000 tons in 1860-61.
- India began attempting to manufacture jute goods by machinery in 1858.
- The unorganized nature of hand labor made it difficult to establish a successful mechanized jute industry in India.
- India was importing nearly 1,000,000 tons of jute annually before World War I.
- The jute industry is considered one of the most important in the textile group.
- Jute fibre is obtained from two varieties of plants: Corchorus Capsularis and Corchorus Olitorius.
- The two varieties of jute plant differ in the shape of their fruit or seed vessel.
- The Corchorus Capsularis variety is usually cultivated in higher and richer soils.
- The Corchorus Olitorius variety is best suited for lower-lying alluvial soils.
- Jute plants typically reach maturity in about four months from the time of sowing.
- Bengal’s location, near the Bay of Bengal and the Himalayan mountains, contributes to its ideal jute growing conditions.
- The rivers Patna and Brahmaputra carry down decayed matter that enriches the soil in Bengal.
- Mymensingh, Dacca, Hooghly, and Pabna are some of the most important jute growing centers in Bengal.
- 90% of jute fiber is produced in Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar.
Statistics:
- 150,000,000 sandbags were collected, packed, and dispatched from Dundee in a 14-day period during World War I.
- 200,000 tons of raw jute were brought to Dundee and other British ports annually before World War I.
- Nearly 1,000,000 tons of jute were exported annually before World War I.
- India consumed approximately 1,000,000 tons of jute annually before World War I.
- Jute plants grow from 5 to 15 feet tall.
- It takes about 10 to 14 tons of green jute crop to produce 10 to 15 cwt. of clean dry fiber.
- The retting process takes 8 to 30 days.
- A maund weighs approximately 8 lbs.
- A standard bale of jute weighs 400 lbs. and measures 4’1″ X 1’6″ X 1′ 4″.
- Two hydraulic presses can produce 130 bales of 400 lbs. each per hour.
- The hydraulic pressure used in baling presses is 6,000 lbs. per square inch.
- A large jute vessel can carry 30,000 to 46,000 bales in a single cargo.
- A typical jute batch consists of 5 to 10 bales.
- Breaker cards deliver sliver at a rate of 50 yards per minute.
- Finisher cards can draw slivers at a draft of 8 to 16 or more.
- Roving frames build 10 in. X 5 in. bobbins.
- A standard spinning bobbin holds approximately 2 lbs. of yarn.
- A common jute roll weighs 7 to 8 lbs. and measures 9 inches long and 8 inches in diameter.
- A cop of jute weft yarn typically weighs 4 to 8 ounces.
- A typical jute cop is 10 inches long and 1-5/8 inches in diameter.
- A warping mill can hold 50 to 72 spinning bobbins.
- There are typically 42 spirals or rounds on a warping mill.
- A linking machine can hold approximately 300 spools of yarn.
Terms:
- Retting: The process of separating the bast layer from the stem of the jute plant by immersing it in water.
- Batching: The process of mixing and lubricating jute fibers to ensure uniformity in yarn production.
- Carding: The process of combing and splitting jute fibers using a breaker card and finisher card.
- Drafting: The process of attenuating or drawing out fibers to create a thinner yarn.
- Roving: The slightly twisted sliver of jute fibers produced by a roving frame.
- Spinning: The process of transforming rove into yarn using a spinning frame.
- Warp: The lengthwise threads in a fabric.
- Weft: The transverse threads in a fabric.
- Hessian: A coarse jute fabric used for various purposes.
- Bagging: A sturdy jute fabric used for making bags.
- Tarpaulin: A waterproof jute fabric used for covering objects.
- Sacking: A heavy jute fabric used for making sacks.
- Dobby loom: A type of loom that can weave more complex patterns.
- Jacquard loom: A loom used to weave intricate patterns in carpets.
- Calender: A machine used to flatten and press jute fabric.
- Mangle: A machine that presses and smooths jute fabric.
- Crisping: The process of doubling and folding jute fabric to create a finished appearance.
Examples:
- The Dutch Government’s orders for jute bags in 1838: This example highlights the early demand for jute products and its impact on the industry’s growth.
- The shift from hand labor to mechanized mills in India: This example demonstrates the challenges and ultimately the success of transitioning to a more industrialized approach in jute production.
- The use of jute sandbags during World War I: This example showcases the vital role of jute in wartime efforts and its strategic importance.
- The different types of jute fabrics: The text provides various examples of hessian, bagging, tarpaulin, and sacking, illustrating the diverse applications of jute in various industries.
- The use of overhead runway systems in jute mills: This example showcases the advancement of technology in the industry, particularly in handling heavy materials like warp beams.
Conclusion:
“The Jute Industry: From Seed to Finished Cloth” offers a comprehensive and insightful look into this crucial industry in 1921. The text highlights the historical context of jute’s rise, its importance during World War I, and its subsequent global growth. The authors expertly detail the complex manufacturing processes, showcasing the skilled labor and sophisticated machinery involved in transforming jute fiber into a wide range of products. This text provides a valuable resource for understanding the development and importance of the jute industry, highlighting its significant contributions to global trade and manufacturing.