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but chemical principles point out that flax may be considered 
to be a bundle of colourless or white fibres or filaments, and 
these may by capillary forces be separated so far as to have 
but little strength when so reduced. Practice must find out 
the bundle of fibres most suited for particular purposes ; and 
thus it may be expected that for coarse purposes, by simple 
mechanical means, the threads or bundles of fibres, with 
native gum, may be spun into coarse threads, and be woven 
into strong fabrics, while softer means, as pure water, heat, 
and pressure, separate and extend the fibres of the flaxen 
cylinders; and of course by chemical agency these may 
have capillary powers and individuality until they become 
fitted only for peculiar and very fine materials and purposes. 
Among the earliest communications made to the Society of 
Arts, is one from the Countess Moira, who fully developes 
the methods she employed, with the sort of cotton or wool 
she obtained, and clearly records the disappointment she ex- 
perienced after her successful experiments, by the prejudice 
of the native workmen of Ireland, who positively refused to 
work at the new material. It is a most touching record of 
prejudice and habit, and shows that fortunate times are 
required to bring about the reception of new truths, or of 
old knowledge utterly disregarded. 
The recent statements, however, and the hopes thus raised, 
have caused the attention of parties to be directed to the 
subject, and now substances are produced from flax that 
may be called '''flax-wool" because intended to be used along 
with wool. Report speaks of its fineness, its length of staple, 
the glossy wear, and the properties it possesses, with appro- 
priate machinery of mixing with wool, either to felt or to 
spin. Not only will new combinations of a fancy character 
be devised, but new materials be brought into use. Hair of 
some animals, too short to work, may be thus mixed with 
