CULTIVATION AND USE OF THE TEASEL. 117 



All seeds of weeds flourisliing in a rich loamy soil suitable for flax, may, of 

 course, be expected to usurp the soil and surface wherever their seeds are 

 brought in contact with it, unless the greatest care and cleanest culture are 

 arrayed against them. 



Professor Voelcker found in one sample of refuse or cake, in seeking adulte- 

 rations of linseed, twenty-nine different kinds of weed-seeds, among which are 

 prominently named the common darnel, corn-cockle, (very pernicious in its 

 effects upon animals,) the pungent wild radish, wild grape, (a sort of mustard,^ 

 and charlock, or common wild mustard. 



THE FLAX COMMISSION. 



In accordance with the provisions of a law approved February 25, 1863, 

 appropriating 820,000 " for investigations to test the practicability of culti- 

 vating and preparing flax and hemp as a substitute for cotton," the Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture appointed Hon. J. K. Moorhead, of Pittsburg, Pa., Dr. 

 John A. "Warder, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and William M. Bailey, of Providence, 

 Tt. L, a commission to make investigations and conduct experiments. Subse- 

 quently, Mr. Bailey having resigned, the vacancy was filled by the appoint- 

 meut of Hon. Charles Jackson, of Providence, R. I. The commission has had 

 several meetings, received a large number of specimens, investigated various 

 processes of manufacture, and examined models of machinery, and will embody 

 the results of their researches iu a report to be presented to Congress at its 

 next session. 



CULTIVATION AND USE OF THE TEASEL. 



BY Z. MOSES, MARCELLUS, NEW YORK. 



Outside of the eastern States, it is presumed that a large number of farmers 

 are unaware of the existence of the article, although it is used in the manufac- 

 ture of all woollen cloth, from the coarsest army blanket to the finest broad- 

 cloth. 



The writer having been engaged for a number of years in growing and deal 

 ing in this truly valuable product, believes that a few words relating to its 

 culture and use would not be uninteresting to the reader of the agricultural 

 reports. 



Until within the last fifteen years the factories were mostly supplied with 

 teasels imported from England and France. At present the American teasel, 

 of better quality than the English variety, nearly supplies the market. The 

 first teasels grown in Onondaga county, New York, were raised about thirty 

 years since by an Englishman ; and at present, it is believed, they are but 

 little cultivated iu this ceuntry outside of Onondaga, Madison, and Wayne 

 counties. New York, and some portions of the New England States. 



The wild teasel found at our roadsides in certain localities is of foreign deri- 

 vation, and by some botanists is thought to be the original of the cultivated 

 teasel ; but it differs from it in this respect, that the points of the burs are 

 straight and flexible, and are useless to the manufacturer, while the plant 

 itself is a great anooyance to the careful farmer who would have his premises 

 iu a neat condition. 



The teasel of commerce (Dipsacus fuUonum) is a European plant greatly 

 improved by cultivation. It is biennial j has a fleshy root which branches 



