PREFACE, ix 
advantage in doing away with the prejudice now existing 
on the part of consumers about trying a new article.” 
In sending Fibres to the English market, it would greatly 
facilitate their employment, if the natives of India would 
prepare them in a cleaner state, and have them made up in 
the manner to which manufacturers here are accustomed. 
Most of the Fibres treated of have been examined by prac- 
tical men of skill, who consider them to be well adapted for 
many purposes, and have assigned to them such prices as 
they seem to be worth. These appear to be sufficient, to pay 
for their culture and export. 
I have to acknowledge my obligations to Mr. Ord, of 
Threadneedle Street, who examined all the Fibres sent to 
the Exhibition of 1851; and also to the Messrs. Noble, 
who have recently examined the whole collection of Fibres. 
It is often said that the only mode of ascertaining the 
value of a Fibre, or of any other product, is to see what it will 
bring in the open market. This is, no doubt, true of such 
things as are known. But if a new product is sent into the 
market, few of the regular purchasers will buy it, as they 
want that to which their machinery and manufactures are 
suited. I am told, that it is only by sending an article 
for some years into market, that it attracts notice. When 
worked up and found useful, inquiries are subsequently 
made for it, and by degrees its properties are deter- 
mined, and its real value ascertained; as we may see 
on examining the present and former comparative prices of 
Jute. The process will be much expedited by employing 
brokers who pay special attention to particular classes of 
articles, and by giving them all the information possible. 
It would also be promoted by the more general establish- 
ment of Trade Museums, as these would assist in dispelling 
much of the ignorance which prevails respecting many 
valuable Natural Products. 
Merchants and manufacturers in this country, on the 
