VEGETABLE SILKS MUDAR. 



73 



mixed with the pulp of the Sunn hemp plant. An attempt to spin it has 

 been made, mixed with one-fifth of cotton, and a tolerably good wearing 

 cloth was prepared from it, which took the dye well. The plant grows 

 plentifully in the southern parts of India. 



Fig. 45 shows the fibres of the Mudar or Yercum as seen under a 

 quarter-inch objective. They show a rather faint transverse marking, 

 reminding one of the structure of China grass fibres. The fine silky 

 staple of these fibres often appears tempting to the eyes of cotton spinners, 

 but the staple is too slape ; yet it can be drawn out to more than an 

 inch in length. Such a staple displays its fine silk-like lustre to the best 

 advantage. 



What these fibres lack in staple they make up by having very good 



Fig. 45. Fibres of the Mudar (magn.). 



capacities for dyeing either a good deep black, a fine golden colour, and a 

 pink or reddish tint. 



For good specimens of these fibres brought from India, I am indebted 

 to the firm of Ralph Douse & Son, Limited, Billiter Buildings, Mark 

 Lane, London, and my dyed specimens I owe to Mr. Charles Timothy 

 Bradbury, J.P. 



All attempts to spin this fibre has so far been by mixing it with 

 cotton or some other fibres; consequently it has proved a failure. 



The very silky lustre and the good dyeing property which these fibres 

 possess are so rich that they ought to be kept intact when trying to 

 spin or to felt it. 



