Ma? 1, 1884] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



ON THE STRAW PLAIT TRADE. 455 



plaiters, either at market or to dealers living near to them. In some 

 cases several weeks' work is kept before being disposed of. 



The measure of plait till very recently was very deficient, being 

 frequently but 17 or 18 yards, or even less to the score. Of late years 

 an association for the suppression of this evil has been established, 

 which has been attended with most beneficial results, the measure being 

 now very near the just standard. 



The number of towns, villages, and hamlets embraced by the districts 

 is computed to be between 150 and 200. Of the towns, there are 

 Luton, Dunstable, St. Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Chesham, Tring, 

 Leighton Buzzard, Ivinghoe, Toddington, Ampthill, Shefford, Baldock, 

 and Hitchin. At each of these towns there is a plait market, to which 

 the plaiters come from distances varying from one to six miles. The 

 plait is sold in the open market, beginning at 8 o'clock in the summer 

 and 9 o'clock in the winter. At these markets straw dealers attend, and 

 from them the plaiters obtain their straws when they do not purchase 

 them nearer home. 



Plait, after being collected by the dealers (of whom there are from 

 150 to 200), is brought for sale to two markets, Luton and Dunstable, 

 but chiefly to the former town. Luton market is held on each Monday 

 throughout the year, and as such large quantities of plait are disposed 

 of, it is attended by almost all the trade ; from 150,000 to 200,000 score 

 are sold in busy times on a single market day. Marketing extends in 

 general over three hours. 



Plait, after being purchased of the dealers, is either bleached or dyed. 

 Till within the last eight years it was chiefly bleached, but owing to the 

 immense sale of black, brown, and other self-colour hats, the quantity 

 that is dyed is at some parts of the year greater than that bleached. 

 The dyeing of plait is now a most important branch of the trade, and to 

 the first dyer of plait the trade is greatly indebted. This person was a 

 Mr. Thomas Randall, of Sundon, near Luton. Pipe straws were dyed by 

 him, and by Mr. Wright, of Hemel Hempstead, many years before plait 

 was dyed a self-colour, but the honour of the application of dyeing to 

 plait belongs wholly to Randall. Had he secured it by patent he would 

 have secured it for a long time in his own hands, but as he did not, 

 plait-dyeing in a few years was practised by other persons, who now 

 employ many men and boys, who otherwise could hardly have found 

 employment in the trade in other occupations. 



Plait dyed or bleached is chiefly sewn into hats or bonnets at Luton 

 or Dunstable, or is exported ; the greater portion is, how r ever, required 

 for home consumption. Very little was formerly sewn up at Luton or 

 Dunstable. Up to the year 1835, the Luton trade consisted in plait 

 more than in bonnets, which plait was sold all over the United Kingdom 

 for bonnet making. But the cheapness of Luton bonnets, and their 

 superiority over others made by the bonnet milliners, gave rise to the 

 present trade. The best manufacturer who gave a start to the Luton 



