52 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



covered with fern or straw. Water is daily thrown 

 on the heap, which continues in this situation for 

 nine or ten days. At the end of this time the plants 

 are washed, and the thin green outer rind being 

 peeled off, the fibrous part remains. This is again 

 beaten to cause the separation of the filaments, 

 which are then spread upon stones to cause desicca- 

 tion. When perfectly dry the fibres may be readily 

 separated from the ligneous part : they are then 

 combed and sorted, and spun into yarn. The inha- 

 bitants of the south of France weave this into cloth, 

 which they appropriate to household uses as well as 

 to apparel. Textures of several qualities are manu- 

 factured of this material, from the coarse canvas of 

 which sacks are formed, to stuff for clothing ; and it 

 is said that were it to be as carefully prepared, it 

 would equal hempen or linen cloth in fineness and 

 durability. The peasants of some departments are 

 acquainted with only this description of cloth : none 

 is, however, made for sale, every family preparing its 

 own, proportionate to its wants or ability. 



The Asclepias Syriaca, or Syrian dog-bane, bears 

 a light thin seed-pod, which opening when it is ripe, 

 discloses a silken fleece enveloping the seeds. The 

 fibres of this beautiful down are not more than 

 an inch or two in length, and are therefore ex- 

 tremely difficult of manufacture. Notwithstanding 

 this objection, however, the plant has been success- 

 fully applied to useful purposes, both in Russia and 

 France. In the latter country velvets and satins, as 

 well as stockings, hats, and various other articles for 

 dress, have been manufactured with this material. 

 Although native to the burning plains of Syria, this 

 plant supports without injury much colder climates, 

 and is cultivated so far north as Upper Silesia. 



Its roots are perennial; the stem annual, new 



