The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-02
Tuesday Morning, August 2, 1864.
Substitutes for Cotton and Flax-Are there
any2

A few years ago quite a stir was made lin
the papers, At least about discovery made
by lady, by which a substitute was found
for fax, in a native plant, the use of which
was to be of great service to the community.
We have never heard what it was, probably
In consequence of its not proving what was
anticipated OF it, or for want of skill and
faith in bringing it into practical use.
AT the present price OF cotton cloth and of
linen, it would seem that, If there be any ma
tive plant among US that would yield fibre
which might be wrought into cloth, it should
be put into use, or If none are known, research
should be made for the purpose of discover
ing something of the kind.
Ii occurs TO us that there are two plants,
indigenous OF Maine, that might possibly be
brought into use, by obtaining from them
fibre suitable for many useful purposes. One
of them is the common milk weed tAsclepios
syrtdcd OF some botanists This has Il pod
with cotton-like fibre attached to the seed
We do not mean to recommend this part of it,
because ii is not sufficiently strong for manu-
featuring purposes; but refer to the inner bark
OF the stalk, which resembles fax and hemp
In many particulars. 1t is dbrous and strong.
and that is about all we can now say of it, as
we have never made any very extended ex-
periments with it in order TO ascertain all OF
its characteristic properties.
We suggest 1t now with hope that some
one who has time, opportunity and skill, may
do 1t, aud ascertain what its properties are
Ii they are such as will make the bark valua-
BILE for textile fabrics or for any other of the
arts and manufactures, there will be a gain of
somuch new material If.it prove otherwise,
then there will be some knowledge gained
worth knowing, though Il may be OF mega
tive kind.
Another plant which we would recommend
TO be also eynAfimantpd ON in ha
and for the same purpose, is the common net
lie tGrticd dtocd. This plant has bark
which has quite strong fibre, but how
strong 1t may be, or how useful it is capable
OF being made, we cannot tell, for reasons
given above.
Now these two plants are common weeds
They are indigenous to our soil. They will
grow abuncantly where neglected. OF course
il found useful, they could be made to grow
much more abundantly with little eultiya-
tion and care.
We mention these two, and suggest expert
ments with them, because they first occur 10
our mind. Others may possibly think OF
some other pl-nt which may prove still better
Tor the purposes named. We do not expect
10 find anything better than fax or hemp.
but for some reason or other, our farmers in
Maine do not incline to go into the cultiva-
tion of either at present. Their fathers used
TO do 1t, and their mothers used 10 spin and
weave the product by hand. Theirs was the
slow and honest age. This is the fast and
we will not say dishonest age-but verify we
think the honest part is not any faster in any
sense OF the word than that ia which their
fathers lived. However, be that as it may,
with all their slowness of manual prepara-
ton. they obtained linen cheaper and that
which was more durable than we can obtain
at the present date, and If any substitute can
be found which will make the raw material
cheaper and more abundant, a good thing will
be accomplished. Farmer.