50 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



ramie shows this adhesiveness, it is regarded by the purchaser as a bad 

 sign, that it has not been well cleaned, that there has been some careless- 

 ness in its preparation, some of the outer cortex fibres having been in- 

 corporated, and imported with those of the best basts. 



Fig. 31 are the filasse fibres showing a whiteness and transparency 

 which is characteristic of the best kind imported; they have less 

 tendency to adhere together, and separate fibres are uniform in 

 fineness, silkiness and glossiness. 



Fig. 30. Ramie fibres. 



Fig. 32 shows the parallel filasse fibres after a further stage of 

 cleaning ; they have less cohesion, as also a more silky lustre and greater 

 flexibility. 



Fig. 33 shows a still further stage of filasse fibres in which they lie 

 in close contiguity, one to another, and resemble the finest of combed 

 fibres met with in cotton carding and combing, excepting that the 

 individual fibres are stouter, longer, and more silky in lustre. They 

 have a graceful behaviour in bending, which catches the eye and infers 



