THE TEXTILE FIBRES OF 

 COMMERCE. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



THE vegetable and mineral fibres of commerce may be arranged in four 

 groups, viz. I. Plumose Fibres ; II. Stem and Leaf Fibres ; III. Fruit 

 Fibres (all derived from plants) ; and IV. Mineral Fibres. These groups 

 are represented by the fibres used in various important industries, and 

 by other vegetable fibres, which at present are of special interest from 

 a scientific point of view only. 



I. Plumose Fibres. The fruits and seeds of many British plants have 

 plumose cell fibres, by whose aid they are wafted considerable distances, 

 so as to ensure that some, at least, shall find the conditions favourable 

 for their development. 



This is the case with the fruits or seeds of Willow Herbs 

 (Epilobium), Traveller's Joy (Clematis), Goat's Beard (Tragopogon), 

 Thistles (Carduus and Cnicus), Butter Burr (Petasites), Dandelion 

 (Taraxacum), Willows (Salix), Poplars (Populus), Grasses (Graminex), 

 Ostrich Feather (Arundo), Club or Bulrush (Scirpus), and Reed Mace 

 (Typha). In other countries similar structures occur in the Kapok 

 (Eriodendron), Mudar or Yercum Silk (Calotropis), Wool Tree (Ochroma), 

 Devil's Cotton (Abroma), Kumbi or Galgal Silk (Cochlospermum), 

 Bignonia and Swallow Wort (Asdepias cornuti). 



Fig. 1 represents four seeds of the winged Bignonia (nat. size). 

 The outer portion of each seed is formed by a thin, almost transparent 

 membrane which supports long fine hairs. In all cases the seeds are 

 produced in great abundance, and may probably be utilizable for such 

 purposes as for stuffing light pillows, for decorations, and for ornamenta- 

 tion. 



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