944 



THE NATURE BOOK 



DRIED FLOWER HEAD OF WILD TEASEL 



(DII'SACCS SYLl-ESTRIS). 



at other times by piecework, the latter 

 being by far the more profitable to 

 an experienced cutter. The flower-heads 

 were cut off about eight inches from the 

 top, and the upmost heads, known as 

 " kings," presumably on account of their 

 superior size, were made up into bunches 

 of forty ; the next in size, termed " maid- 

 ens," and the leeist of all, " buttons," 

 being tied into bundles of fifty. 



It is said that an experienced worker 

 could cut as many as twenty thousand 

 per day. The rate of pay was threepence 

 per thousand. 



When engaged in cutting, the operators 

 wore a kind of waterproof smock to save 

 their clothing from being drenched by the 

 water collected at the base of the leaves 

 and the sticky sap which exuded from the 

 cut stalks. When finishing work this 

 overall looked as if it had been given a 

 coating of glue. 



As the stalks are somewhat 

 prickly leather gloves were worn to 

 protect the hands, and the cutting 

 operation itself was performed by 

 the aid of a knife specially made for 

 the work, the blade being two to 

 three inches in length, shghtly 

 tapering, and somewhat turned up 

 at the point. 



As the heads were made into 

 bundles, they were hung on the 

 old plants to dry for two or three 

 days, and then strung on to long 

 poles and carried to open sheds 

 or " helms " erected in the fields 

 for the purpose, there to undergo 

 a further period of drying, which 

 occupied several weeks. This at 

 length completed, the bundles of 

 heads were fastened round staves 

 about three feet long by the aid 

 of willow saplings, until they looked 

 something like a circular brush. 

 This done, they were despatched 

 to the mills. 



Any flower heads found blooming 

 during the cutting season were 

 termed " widows," and as the bracts 

 were soft they were left on the plants, 

 to be afterwards cut down along with 

 the stubble, gathered into heaps, and 

 burnt. 



The demand for Teasel heads for cloth 

 dressing is not now very extensive, and 

 therefore the cultivation of this plant has 

 gradually diminished year by year until 

 now one cannot find many acres where 

 formerly most of the land in the district 

 was utilised. It is without doubt a dying 

 industry ; nevertheless, as one travels up 

 and down the country, old sheds may be 

 noticed which formerly were used for dry- 

 ing heads, the sides being composed of 

 Teasel stalks tied together in faggots ; 

 and in most villages one may enjoy hear- 

 ing related by some old worthy many 

 interesting features and incidents con- 

 nected with the cutting of the "Tazzle." 

 From such an one the facts here given were 

 ehcited. Benjamin Hanley. 



