The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-09-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
FROM THE PoRr FoLfo.
WILLIE corroN, on, vInorNrA s1Lx.

Joint heirs OF an immense, undescrited property,
not yet acquainted withhalf the value of ID cir
inheritance the incalculabie riches ofther coun.
try. Its mineral treasures are but little known !;
its botanical 6ncs far from being fully exDior-
ed. Vegetable productions of equal, perhaps
superior value with that of the celebrated cotton
or tobacco plants may yet Turk in the obscure re-
cesses OF our forests, or even of fields, wait
ing only the kindly hand of the cultivator, and
the aid of the ingenious and enterprising manu-
facturer, to usher them into notice and gene raj
usefulness. Considering it the duty Of every cit
izen, at all times, more particularly at the present
extraordinary crisis to contribute his mite to
promote our national Independence, shall make
no apology for introducing in this place, some
account of plant which grows in great abun-
dance in many parts ofthe country, as we'll as in
the neighborhood Of this city; and of pointing
out some of the useful purposes to which it may
be applied
Those who amuse themselves with ramble,
or promenade, along the charming banks of the
Schuylkill and Delaware, may have observed a
plant, rising in single stem TO the height of
three or four feet, whose smooth oval leaves,
when broken, exude white milky ju &c in con.
siderable quantities lit bears punches of blossoms
;of q dingy purple color, which are succeeded by
pods, containing numerous seeds, and white
glistening silky substance usually called wild
cotton, OF Virginia silk. This plant belongs to
genus called by botansts lscle pias from setinti-
OF Linnaus, or Syrian S waliow. Wort The root is
perennial; and will last from ten to twenty years
IN the month OF April 1T throws out, like aspara-
gus and hops, great number of shoots the
principal stem is about as thick as mans finger
straight, round, and smooth, and beset with oval
Leaves OF considerable size, covered on the upper
side with dark green, and on the lower side with
whitish down. The plant begins to flower about
the beginning OF June, and continues till the be-
ginning OF August there are often from twelve
to sixteen flowers on one stem, each of which
forms bunch, containing from thirty to forty
single flowers. Each single flower adheres to
the bunch by long thin stalk, AMI has q sweetish
odour. Each bunch OF flowers is succeeded by
three, four and sometnnes ten long, and rough
pods, which inciose several round, yellowish-
brown, Hat, and thin seeds, wrapped up i'm
beautiful white shining kind of silk. The seeds
are winged, form which nature has given with
great variety to many others, in order that they
may be conveyed with more ease, and to a great
er distance, by the wind.
The SILK winch covers the seeds in the pods.
is the principal part Of use. The pods gradually
acquire maturity from August to the beginning
ofOctober during which period those who cui-
tiyate the plant must watch with great care for
The period Of their bursting, in order to collect
the silk, lestlit should be carried away by the
wind, or spoiled by the RAIN. The pods, when
collected, should be spread out on net, or rack,
to the height of about foot, in airy place, to
dry. .,e 80
Pie silk, which is of shining white color,
from an inch to an inch and half in length, and
exceedingly elastic, is then taken cut, and being
freed from the seeds Is then hung up in thin bags
in the sun, that it may become perfectly dry
and at the same time it is often softened with the
hand, or by being beat. This vegetable silk may
now be used, without any farther preparation;
instead OF feathers and horse hair, for beds
cushions, coverlets to beds, holsters and mattress
ses. From eight 10 nine pounds oft, which, &C.
cupy the space OF from FIVE to six cubic feet,
will be sufficient for bed, coverlet, and two
pillows such beds, therefore, are exceedingly
convenient for travelling. 1t is not advisable,
tlewever, to use the silk in common for beds, in
ytead OF feathers, as it is too soft and warm II
requires little preparation for quilts and coun-
1erpanes, and is lighter and WARMER than those
OF common silk. For spinning, however, not
withstanding its hneness, which approaches near
20 that OF common silk, it is not fit, when taken
alone, as it is almost too short, and, therefore,
must be used with IN addition of fax, wool, or
common silk but particularly of cotton One
third ofthis Silk with two thirds Of cotton forms
very good mixture for gloves, stockings, and
caps: Other mixtures may be used for different
kinds OF stuffs but it has been observed, that
the cloth is much stronger when the vegetable
Silk is employed for the woof, rather than for the
warp. Many colors have been applied TO
ouch cloth With great success but as each sub
stance requires a peculiar mode of treatment.
more experiments on this subject are necessary
mixture OF one third vegetable silk, and two
thirds CT rabbits down, form hats exceeding.
~ light and soft to the touch which have a
great resemblance to beaver hats, and are much
cheapet.
As soon as the pods have been collected, the
stems which contain fbrous part Capable ofbe-
iug spun,snust be cut before they become DIV,
pr suffer from the night frost. They must then
be immersed for some days, in water, like fax
or hemp, and then dried, by being spread out on
the grass. Care, however, must be taken by
experiments, to ascertain the proper length of
time, as too much, too little, would be preju.
dicia in the last the flaxy part is brittle
and in the former, it loses its strength After il
has been watered, it is beaten and heckled A
mixture ofthe threads spun from the fax of these
stems 9Th the vegetable silk end cotton, prodj,
2es kind OF cloth very proper for furniture. It
has been, however, employed chiefly, with and
without AN addition of rags, FOR making all kinds
OF writing and packing papers, which Sometimes
IS similar to the Chinese paper, and sometimes
exceeds iii strength the usual paper made IRON
rags
Both the inner white skin, and the external
green husk OF the capsules, which contain the
seeds, might be employed for manufacturing the
liner sorts OF silk paper and, that as little as
possible Of this plant should remain useless,
Mature has provided in the sweet juice Of its
flowers, excellent nouri5hment for bees Ac-
cording TO late German writer, this plant
10 the above respect, the lime tree excepted,
As superior to all otheryegetable productions.
Ths great utility Of this plant has been known
an Europe little more than forty years A man
ufactory OF articles from il has been established
at Paris since 1850 ; and it has long been en-.
r.fu .ya1s 4 a.