Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-06

Ahio uoilcSllc IuauuIdctuTe was QlSc0n-
tfnued chiefly owing to the invention of the
cotton gin, which so cheapened cotton that
the latter was substituted for flax There
are few mills in this country which make
coarse goods like crash toweling and cord
age out of flax fiber, getting most of their
raw material from Canada and Russia
Over 100000 acres Of flax are grown in
this country for seed alone the fiber being
wasted The fiber from plants cultivated
Tor this purpose is coarse, because the seed
ID soWn thinly. The more seed sown to the
acre, the finer the straw and the better the
fiber.
The cultivation of fax in Europe and the
spinning and weaving by primitive looms
OF nne linen, would seem to antedate his
tory. AS far back as the stone age, the in
habitants of Switzerland and Lombardy.
living in huts and feeding on roots and
acorns, were familiar. in a crude way, with
this industry. Historical memoirs prove that
the ancient Hindoos and Egyptians produc-
ed flax, the former for its seed. the latter,
about 5,OOO years ago, for its thread. The
old Egyptian linen was very fine and beauti-
full The use of fibers by American aborig-
Ines goes so far back into the past that
there are no records to show when their
employment began. Among the Aztecs
fbers from palm leaves and various species
ropes and mats in prehistoric times.
In Various Lands.
Many Of the dbers used in various parts
Of the world are derived from curious
sources. From the seed-pods Of the caiotro-
pis gigantea the natives Of Java obtain a
silky stuff like cotton. resembling fax and
very strong. 1t IL called ''kahok.'' They
prepare 1t with their hands and feet, and
from 1t manufacture bow-strings and traps
for tigers. A good deal Of 1t Is exported to
Holland for upholstery material. The Next
cans make species of silk-cotton, twisted
In soft yarn, into candle-wicks. This sort
Of wick leaves no ash its combustion being
perfect. Having no felting property. the
nber cannot be spun. The same people make
cordage and cigarette-wrappers out Of the
inner bark of certain trees.
from Algeria comes a vegetable hair
which looks much like horsehair. 1t is OBJ
tanned from the leaves Of q palmetto similar
to the scrub palmetto which grows wild all
over Florida and Georgia. In those states
the production Of this kind Of fiber may
become an industry some day. 1t is good
Tor stuffing mattresses and furniture. The
famous esparto grass is derived from the
same part of Africa. It yields a fiber that Is
most Importantly useful for paper-making,
though also employed for baskets, hats.
mats, ropes and nets. Spanish shepherds
weave II SO closely that vessels made of II
Will hold liquids. Probably 1t would not be
practicable to cultivate the esparto grass
IN this country. because the labor of harvest
ing 1t is too great. 1t grows in tufts and
has to be plucked up. Freedom Americans
VIII not bend their backs unless they are
handsomely paid for it.
From Palms.
Useful fibers obtained from palms are of
endless variety. Among them is the we'll
known "coir." from which cocoa mating is
made. This is taken from the husk of the
cocoanut and is shipped to market twisted
into long ropes. The industry Of preparing
1t Is of great importance in Ceylon For
merly it was separated by burying the
husks Tor many months in pits, where they
We're subjected to rotting by sea water.
Many fbers used for brushes come from
pains. one Kind, from Ceylon. is called
"kittool" 1t is from the leaves, the feshy
parts of which are rotted away by the
rains, SO that the stout fibers forming the
leaf skeletons hang down in punches and
are easily cut off: They are utilized to
make ropes for tying elephants. The same
tree produces palm wine, sugar and a kind
or sage, from which the natives prepare a
dish resembling oatmeal
The brushes of the street-sweeping ma
chihes used IN London and Paris are made
| from a palm fiber resembling kittool only
coarSer, and obtained in the same way
This species furnishes material for bridges
In some parts of South America. An i'm
portant commercial fiber from South Amer
lea Is got from the roots of kind of grass
1t Is largely used for brooms. The Mexi-
can natives make superb fiber from the
century plant. Being very elastic 1t has
been recommended for hawsers, which would
not be nearly so likely to snap as the ordi-
| nary Manila hemp. The "ixtle' or tam
pico OF Mexico is allied to the century
plant and affords fiber which is imported
In considerable quantities into this country
for use instead of bristles for brushes The
finest quality brings $500 ton. This plant
grows wild on arid table lands, where no
other living thing can find moisture enough
to sustain existence.
Manila hemp is a variety of the banana.
Spanish moss which hangs In festoons from
trees in the south. belongs to the same or
der as the pineapple, oddly enough 1t is
an air plant, but not a parasite, as is COM
monty supposed One reason for the mis-.
conception In this regard is that II is most
luxuriant on dead trees, because its own
growth is not interfered with by foliage. 1t
Is utilized as a commercial fiber being
| treated in masses with chemicals which rot
on It's outer covering, or bark. After being
dried it looks like horsehair and is called
| vegetable hair"