62 FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



The flower-heads are numerous, growing singly on the 

 extremities of the footstalks, and first breaking forth into 

 flower in a ring of blossoms near the centre. Cloth- 

 makers have found that no invention can supersede the 

 natural teasel-head for raising a nap on woollen cloth. 

 These heads are therefore an extensive article of commerce, 

 the plant being largely cultivated for this purpose in the 

 west of England, in France, Germany, Italy, and else- 

 where. Many thousands are imported every year, and 

 any one who is familiar with any of the centres of the 

 clothing industry, will remember seeing the waggon-loads 

 of teasel-heads going through the streets to the different 

 factories. The heads are cut as soon as the flowers wither, 

 about eight inches of stem remaining attached to them, 

 and they are then dried, and sorted into qualities. The 

 great utility of the teasel-head is that it gives the neces- 

 sary nap, but breaks at any serious obstruction, while all 

 metallic substances in such a case expect the cloth to yield 

 first, and therefore tear the material. 



