1793- ^" nfltle yarn. 22t 



source of great inconvenience and expence to (hip owners. 

 This has been so severely felt that many attempts have 

 been made to get a more durable substitute for it j even 

 lead, — the thin (heels of it that come with tea packages, 

 have been tried for that purpose 5 but besides the enormous 

 expence of that article, it is neither so pliable as could 

 be wiftied, nor remains without corrosion j which is des- 

 , tructive in several respects. Nettle yarn, he therefore 

 thinks, could be applied for this purpose with much be- 

 nefit to the public. It might also be employed for ma- 

 king hawsers and cables, that would be much stronger, 

 and more lasting than those made of hemp. 



These are important purposes that would certainly be 

 effected with ease, if it Ihall be found upon trial, by a 

 series of decisive experiments, that the filament of this 

 plant is pofsefsed of the incorruptible quality he thinks 

 the experience of the filhermen authorises him to say it 

 has. I therefore recommend this as an object deserving 

 the attention of the public j and as this paper will be pub- 

 lifhed a little before the time that the nettle will be fit to 

 be gathered, it will put it in the power of such as incline 

 to do it, to make experiments on this very substance 

 during the present season. 



Would not this be a proper object for a set of premi- 

 ums by the trustees for encouraging manufactures, to sti- 

 mulate men to make decisive experiments upon this sub- 

 ject ? 



In France, where for some years past, people in the 

 higher departments of life have been more than usually 

 attentive to agriculture ; and where of course many theo- 

 retic hints for improvements would be thrown out, some 

 persons have thought that the nettle might be cultivated 

 with profit as a food for cows. It is well known in tliis 

 country that cows cat it very readily if cut before the bark 



