22 



THE FLAX PLANT. 



in the fact, that the mummy cloths of the ancient Egyptians, which are nearly five 

 thousand years old, are found to be composed of this material. 



At the present day, this tissue is abundantly used, and is derived from very various 

 sources. Its relative value depends upon the fineness and evenness of the fibre, 

 and upon its elasticity. It has been found that certain kinds of flax have very great 

 powers of resistance when exerted in a straight line, but readily break when they are 

 bent. This is the case with the Is"ew Zealand flax ; and its brittleness is to be attri- 

 buted only to the nature of the material deposited within the tube. The flax obtained 

 in this country, in Ireland, and India, from the Cannabis, has less resisting characters ; 

 but as it does not break so much in the process of hackling, has a higher marketable 

 value. The pine-apple fibre is very capable of minute subdivision, and is very resisting, 

 and consequently very fitted for the manufacture of fine fabrics. Cocoa-nut-palm fibre 

 is also very strong from the presence of secondary deposits. 



The cost of flax has induced mercantile men to use woody fibre of less durability, 

 bat at the same time of a less costly kind such as that derived from the China- 

 grass, a species of nettle ( Urtica}; and from it much of the less durable linen cloth and 

 pocket-handkerchiefs are now produced. It is well known that the tissue now under 

 consideration occupies a medium between silk and cotton, as it regards resistance 

 durability, and cost. 



Silk is the produce of a mem- 

 ber of the animal kingdom (Fig. 

 62 D), and occupies the highest 

 position in the qualities referred 

 to. Labillardiere ascertained 

 that bundles of fibres of equal 

 size, of silk, flax, and cotton, 

 gave the following unequal 

 powers of resistance, on the 

 application of a weight : 

 Silk supported, -without break- 

 ing, a weight of . . . 341bs. 

 New Zealand flax (Phormiuin 



tenax} . . . . .23* 

 Hemp (Cannabis) . . . igj 

 Flax (Linum) . . . . 11| , 

 Pita-flax (Agave Americana). 7 

 The resisting powers of cotton are 

 much below the lowest now in- 

 dicated. 



In order the better to appre- 

 ciate the characters of these tex- 

 tile materials, single fibres of 

 each have been selected and 

 placed side by side (Fig. 62), and 

 to these have been added hairs, 

 or fibres of wool, and silk. These 

 have not only been used largely 

 for centuries in the manufacture 



injnummy cloths obtained from 0^^' 



orl-LAx PLANT. 



is found woven with 



