WILD TEASEL 



of unique commercial value, it closely resembles the 

 Wild Teasel and is by many believed to be only a 

 cultivated form; but there are a few specific differ- 

 ences, the principal one being that the spine of the bract 

 enveloping the flower is stronger and more curved. 



The plant has long been cultivated in Europe, and 

 in 1840 its cultivation was begun in Onondaga County, 

 New York, where it is still grown, but its area of culti- 

 vation has increased very little except that it is grown 

 in Oregon. 



The commercial value of the plant lies in the char- 

 acter of the bracts of the florets after the seed has 

 matured. These are stiff, hooked, at the same time 

 slightly flexible. The heads are cut in half, affixed 

 to a revolving cylinder and used to raise the nap upon 

 woollen cloth. The value of these heads varies with 

 the soil and climate. The dry climate of France 

 and the moist climate of England each produces 

 its own variety, the best for a particular kind of work. 

 The American Teasel is the best for making broad- 

 cloth and is exported for that use. 



No invention can equal the natural Teasel-head 

 for raising the nap on woollen cloth, because the bracts 

 break at any serious obstruction, where a metal substi- 

 tute in such a case tears the material. 



217 



