VEGETABLE SILK. 181 



capital of probably £3,000,000, all employed in working out 

 a vegetable fibre which the beneficent Creator has bestowed 

 for the protection of a small seed not larger than a pea, 

 and for the clothing of the human race. 



Vegetable Silk. Chorisia speciosa. (Nat. Ord. Sier- 

 culiacea.) 



This curious production is called Arvore de Paina in 

 South America, where it is extensively used in stuffing 

 cushions, but cannot be woven in consequence of the indi- 

 vidual fibres being perfectly smooth, not rough and adhe- 

 rent like those of the cotton. It resembles cotton wool, but 

 has a beautiful satiny lustre, and is extremely light; it is 

 not unlike the beautiful down of the Cotton-grasses {Erio- 

 phorum : Cyperacea) so common upon the moors of this 

 country. Small quantities are occasionally imported for 

 stuffing and probably for mixing with down of birds as an 

 adulteration. 



The Indian Grass Matting, so much esteemed in India 

 and Europe, is made from Papyrus corymhosus. This ma- 

 terial is not imported in an unmanufactured state, but 

 woven into mats ; it reaches us in very large quantities. 



There are many other vegetable fibres used for textile 

 and similar purposes in various parts of the world ; indeed 



