l66 MANUFACTURES FROM NETTLE riBRES,' 



>t trill allow of it, and to secure the propagation of them the 



suhseqnent year. 

 Time6ff»- The most favourable time for collecting them is from the 



^"^* beginning of July to the end of August, but it may be conti- 



nued even to the end of October, only the lint of those 

 which remain growing to that time will be less supple, and 

 will not work so freely ; and if the season happens to be un- 

 favourable, it is probable there would not be sufficient time 

 to steep and grass them, in which cas^they shoiild be dried 

 by the heat of the atmosphere, or if the state ofjthe weather 

 would not permit of this, then by means of artificial heat; 

 and when dried they should be housed ©r stacked till the 

 spring, when they might successfully undergothe same ope- 

 ration of steeping as those of the first collection. Such as 

 grow in grass fields, where the grass is intended for hay, 

 should be cut when the hay is cut, in order to prevent their 

 being spoiled by the cattle when feeding; the harls of 

 which would be fine in quality, and well suited to be 

 wrought up with the second crop, and which crop may be 

 obtained afjter those of the first cutting, where the situation 

 ^ will admit pi their being preserved. The fine quality of such 



I ascertained last autumn, and found the height of them to 

 average three feet and a half; they were gathered the latter 

 end of November. The following are the processes «4opted 

 by me. '■ • ■ ■ ■' 'i ' 



rreatment After the nettles are gathered they should be exposed to 



after gather- the atmosphere till they gain some firmness, in order to pre- 

 vent the skin from being damaged in the onerations of dress- 

 ing off the leaves, the lateral branches, and seeds. Ttiis should 

 be done a handful at a time; and afterward they should be 

 sorted, viz. those which are both longand fine by themselves^ 

 those which are both long and coarse by themselves, and 

 those which are short and coarse by themselves; then made 

 up into bundles as large as can be grasped with both hands, 

 a convenient size for putting them into the water, and 

 taking them oijt ; a place for this purpose being previously 

 prepared, either a pond or a pit free from mud, or a brook 

 <>r river. The bundles should then be immersed, and placed 

 aslant with the root end uppermost, and to prevent thei» 

 Hoating CD the surface some weight should be laid upon them. 



ing 



