THE FIBHES OF TRINIDAD. 423 



The flaxy fibres, as we shall call the former, are always found in the state 

 of bars. The fibres in each layer are of contemporaneous, while those of 

 different layers are of successive, growth ; the latter are more easily 

 separated into bundles than the former. These are kept apart from each 

 other by an intermediate tissue, which must be eliminated either by mechani- 

 cal means, or by fermentation. Though this is not the place for a detailed 

 discussion of the subject, it may be as well to record a few axiomata : — 



1. The preparation of fibres consists in the separation of bundles of elon- 

 gated cells from common cellular tissue. 



2. The substance which causes vegetable cells to cohere, must either be 

 eliminated, or the cells must be torn. 



3. The latter process entails a loss of useful "substance. 



4. The same substance which connects the cells together, connects also 

 the particles of each cell or fibre. 



5. The process of retting, whether by chemical means or simple fermen- 

 tation, must, therefore, be interrupted before the cells themselves, 

 and, if possible, before the aggregations of analogous cells, are 

 attached. 



6. Analogous cells are more strongly connected than different ones, and 

 the particles of cells more strongly than whole cells. 



Little is known of the nature of the substance which connects the cells, 

 because it decomposes or is otherwise destroyed in the process of extraction 

 from the tissues. But for practical purposes we handle it, and remove or 

 retain as if it were a tangible body ; we content ourselves with an acquaint- 

 ance with some of its qualities. There can be no doubt that if we could 

 isolate this substance, various applications might be found for it. 



After the fibre-cell is separated from the surrounding tissue, the removal 

 aud destruction of the substance in question goes on, and the fibre gets con- 

 consequently worn and loses its strength. The substance is more or less 

 powerfully acted upon, dissolved, or destroyed, by moist air and heat, or 

 by alkalies and acids. Hence, bleaching by chemical process, unless very 

 carefully conducted, impairs the strength of the fibres. 



In proportion to the inequality and paucity of the spaces between the 

 layers of fibre is their lateral cohesion, and consequently their affinity to 

 the Bass nature, and adaptability to textile fabrics. This ought to be borne 

 in mind in the following enumeration ; but it should also be remembered 

 that this cohesion does not prevent, but rather promotes, their being manu- 

 factured into ropes and cords. Separately, the cells are short, hence we take 

 them in the aggregate. The cell is rarely beyond an inch long, generally 

 much less ; that of Flax, for instance, one inch. I have met with a fibrous 

 cell, Urtica latifolia (Biot.), which had a length of seven inches. 



The following general remarks may possibly have their special interest : 



1 . Herbaceous plants generally give a small flexible fibre. 



2. Thick- walled fibre-cells will, ceteris paribus, resist decomposition and 

 violence longer and better than thin-walled fibre. 



3. Pitted and slit fibre-cells offer less resistance than cells without slits 

 and pit 1 . 



