43 



There were imported into Boston, — 



In 1835, 531 packages, atnouniing to . . ^17,630 



" 1836, 362 4c u ^ , 10,450 



^' 1837, 31 " '' . . . 1,860 



Total value, . . , $30,040 



This amount constitutes but a small portion of the whole consump- 

 tion. 



The teasels raised in tiiis country are esteemed inferior to the 

 best German teasels, and command a much lower price. A man- 

 ufacturer of great experience, both in Europe and in this country, 

 states, in a letter with which I have been favored, " that for a wool- 

 len factory the teeth must be full and strong ; the color, grecn-yelloiv. 

 When the teasel is yellow, it has been cut too late ; and is conse- 

 quently too ripe and not good. The core must be full ; if empty or 

 decayed, it is diseased. The kind denominated Rouaner is esteemed 

 in Europe the best quality ; they are far superior to those grown in 

 Avignon in France. If the teasel is quite green, it is not good ; as 

 the teeth run all one way, and do not come back, as they have not 

 had sufBcient sun. If too yellow, they are too ripe, and their strength 

 is lost ; and the teeth break off and become useless, after being used 

 three or four times ; but the good ones, green-yellow, can be used 

 twelve times on one side, then turned and used twelve times on the 

 other side." 



I have the statements of three farmers familiar with the cultivation, 

 whose estimates of the yield of an acre will be found to differ consid- 

 erably from each other. This may arise from a difference in the culti- 

 vation, or in the assorting of the several qualities ; perhaps the one in- 

 cludes more in what he deems marketable, than the other. Of the farmer 

 who reports the smallest amount, I only say, that his crop was beau- 

 tiful ; and his teasels all assorted with the greatest care, being done up 

 in separate bunches with neatness, and hung up separately to be 

 dried. 



He reports 85,000 to an acre. Another reports from 200,000 to 

 300,000. A third, 250,000 ; and states, that on three acres he, in 

 one instance, obtained a crop of one nnllion. In one instance, 30,000 

 were raised on one-sixth of an acre ; that is at the rate of 480,000 to an 

 acre. The burr must be 1 J inch in length, in order to be rendered 

 merchantable. The manufacturer will buy those which are shorter, 



