350 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



ning of cloth manufacture as now. The only 

 improvement they have seen is in the device that 

 holds them in position as they do their inimitablr 

 work in finishing fine cloth. 



For blankets and other woolens with the longest 

 nap, the "king" teasel heads are required. Shorter 

 nap, such as English cloths have, is made by the 

 " queens." Broadcloth has a fine, short nap that 

 is produced by the smallest teasel heads, called 

 "buttons." 



The common teasel of waysides and neglected 

 fields is not the same as the cultivated "fuller's 

 teasel." But it is so close to it that few people 

 would distinguish the commercial from the worth- 

 less species, unless they had experience in teasel- 

 buying. Look at a full-grown teasel, and the 

 "king" is easily seen standing at the top of the 

 straight, main stem. The "queens" are on the 

 ends of the main branches. The "buttons" tip the 

 secondary branches. One king, several queens, 

 and a multitude of buttons — that is the way they 

 run in size and numbers. 



Teasel plants have some very interesting pecul- 

 iarities. The paired leaves that clasp the stem 

 form a deep cup at each joint where branches start, 

 and this cup catches and holds a pint or so of water. 

 If this water is lost ? the heads above will not be 



