1^0 On the Cullrjalion and Zje 



as a man's finger, is ftraight, round, and fmooth, and befet 

 with oval leaves of eoniiderable fizc, covered on the upper 

 fide with dark green, and on the lower fide with whitifh 

 down. The plant has a milky juice, which is laid to be 

 perfectly harmlefs. The flowers appear about the end of 

 Ma , and continue til! the month of July; there are often 

 from twelve to fixtecn on one fiem, each of which forms a 

 bunch, containing bom thirty to forty fingle flowers. Each 

 fingle flower adheVes to the bunch by a long thin (ialk, and 

 has a fweetifh odour. Each bunch of flowers is fucceeded 

 by three, four, and fometimes ten long, flat, and rough 

 pods, which inc'.ofc ievcral round, yellowifh brown, flat 

 u;;d thin feeds wrapped up in a beautiful fhining white kind 

 of lilk. The feels ore winged ; a form which nature baa 

 given with graa variety to many others*, in order that they 

 niav be conveyed with, more cafe, and to a greater diflance, 

 by the wind. 



II. U/'rs. — I ft, The filk, which covers the feeds in the 

 pods, i.s the principaJ part of ufe, and that from which the 

 whole plant takes its name. The pods gradually acquire 

 maturity from Auguft to the beginning of October, at 

 which lime thofe who cultivate this plant muff, watch with 

 great care for the period of their burfting, in order to collect 

 the filk, left it fhould be carried away by the wind, or be 

 fpoilt by the rain. The pods when collected are fpread out, 

 to the height of about half a foot, on a net or rack, in an 

 airy place, in order to dry. 



The filk, which is of a fhining white clour, from an inch 

 to an inch and a half in length, and exceedingly elaftic, 

 is then l ak.:u out, and being freed from the feeds is hungup 

 in thin bags in the fun, in order that it may become per- 

 fectly dry ; and at the fame time it is often foftened with 

 the hand, or by being beat. This vegetable filk may now be 

 iifcl, without any further preparation, ipftead of feathers and 

 horfe-hair, ior beds, cufhions, coy dets to beds, holders, 

 and mattrefies. From eight to nine pounds of it, which oc- 

 cupy the fpace of from e ttvfi: cubic feet, will be fufli- 

 eu nt for a coverlet, bed, and t\\u pillows; fuch beds therefore 

 arc excfedinglv^'ohvenient ior travelling. It is not advife- 

 8 *" able, 



