THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



[May 1, 1864. 



462 



ON THE STRAW PLAIT TRADE. 



temberg part of the Black Forest adjoining these districts, the straw 

 does not possess those qualities which distinguish that grown on its 

 southern side. It is clearly, then, the climate which here favours the 

 Grand Duchy. This industry is a most popular one ; and everywhere 

 in the forest the women may be seen twisting, in their agile fingers, the 

 plaits of straw destined to adorn the pretty heads of their fair country' 

 women of the towns. 



The straw trade of Switzerland in 1852 occupied about 40,000 per- 

 sons ; a portion worked at the factories, but the greater number at home. 

 The straw is of home production, embroidered or mixed with silk, 

 thread, horsehair, &c. The more important factories of this material 

 are in the Cantons of Argovie, Thurgovie, Appenzell, and St. Gall. The 

 Canton of Fribourg is more especially confined to the manufacture of straw 

 hats and bonnets. They export to almost every country, and the articles 

 of this manufacture are highly appreciated for their beauty and low price. 



Upwards of 70,000 persons are now employed on straw plaiting and 

 hats. The Canton of Fribourg exports goods to the value of 60,000/. or 

 70,000/., and that of Argovie more than half a million sterling. France 

 has a large trade, principally for local use, in straw hats and bonnets, 

 at wholesale prices, ranging from 4s. to 15s. per dozen. At the Paris 

 Exhibition of 1855, where there was an excellent display of straw plait 

 manufactures from Tuscany, Switzerland, Belgium, Saxony, and France, 

 Great Britain in this class was quite unrepresented, although, as the 

 Jury Reports observed, " she occupies a distinguished rank " in this 

 particular manufacture. 



General Imports into the United Kingdom. 





1854. 



1855. 



1856. 



1857. 



1858. 



Plaiting of straw chip ) 

 or other material, lb. j 



207,755 



135,864 



155,524 



203,128 



172,333 



Cordonnet . lbs. 



18,057 



6,310 



7,292 



6,834 



4,177 



Plaiting of chip less ] 













in value than 6d. the > 



9,850 



9,219 



10,409 



3,969 



4,044 



piece ot 60 yds. lbs. ) 

 Willow squares . cwts. 













200 



287 



218 



219 



242 



Hats and bonnets of ) 

 straw, &c. . lbs. \ 





37,901 



36,852 



67,454 



35,272 



Straw or grass for ) 

 plaiting . . cwts. \ 





478 



504 



165 



84 



Computed Total Value of the Imports into the United 

 Kingdom. 

 Plaiting. Hats and Bonnets. 



1854 £209,454 £168,543 



1856 158,023 86,155 



1858 156,369 93,588 



I860 194,561 100,071 



1862 118,877 99,640 



