68 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



a Yorkshire woollen manufacturer, who examined them from a staple 

 and commercial point of view. The tree producing these plumose fibres 

 is characterised by its wood, which is white and tender, and so exceedingly 

 light that it has been used instead of corks to fishing nets, hence its name 

 of "Cork Tree." 



Some slight efforts have been made to utilise these vegetable wool 

 fibres for the purpose of felt hat-making, but so far without success. The 

 want of marginal dentations on the fibres has been adduced as the main 

 reason why they are not suitable for this purpose. Nevertheless some 



Fig. 41. Seeds of the Wool tree. 



use should be made of them, inasmuch as they will take a good dye, and 

 have been blended with silk in hat-making mainly on that account. 



For the specimens figured, I am indebted to C. T. Bradbury, Esq., 

 J.P., Managing Director, Gartside's, of Manchester, Limited. 



Wurzel Burste (Polytrichum commune}. Small brooms, used by 

 weavers in Switzerland, have been made from the stems of this large moss, 

 and are known under the above name (according to Mr. John Jackson, 

 F.L.S.). This moss grows plentifully in the valleys of the moorland 

 and mountainous districts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and in Wales, 

 Scotland, and Ireland. It is commonly known as the Hair Moss, but 

 in some parts of Lancashire and in Yorkshire it is styled the " Robinson 

 Crusoe " moss, on account of the calyptra being fringed or woolly and 

 persistent to the capsule. 



