THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Sept. 1, 1865. 
88 THE FIBRES OF COMMERCE. 
commercial products, proved their suitableness and applicability for all 
the purposes required. The only question now is as to the price, 
condition, and quantity in which they can be supplied in our 
ports. 
The quantity of hemp and other vegetable substances of the nature 
'of undressed hemp imported from the East Indies and the Philippines 
was in 1851, 589,460 cwt., and in 1864, 2,306,752 cwt. 
Besides the above, there were 79,693 cvvts. of coir-rope, twine, and 
strands, valued at 109.429/. received from India in 1863, and 37,485 
cwt., valued at 51,884/. from Ceylon. 
For the use of the brush-maker the kittool fibre, obtained from a 
palm, the Caryota urens, was found to answer admirably, and this, with 
coir from the cocoa-nut husk, Mexican grass, so called, {Agave sisilana), 
and various other stout vegetable fibres, have entered largely into the 
manufacture. 
It is singular how quickly science and the skill of our manufacturers 
supersede one article by another of totally different material. The 
instances of this of late years have been very numerous, and will occur 
to the recollection of the reader. Wood for building purposes is being 
fast supplanted by iron. Gutta-percha and caoutchouc have very 
generally taken the place of leather in many manufactures. And we 
may shortly expect to be completely independent of the hog, at least, 
for his skin and bristles, however much we may still make use of 
his carcase. 
Vegetable fibres, as we have just seen, are now very generally and 
effectively used in brush-making, but another revolution has lately taken 
place in the substitution of fine metallic wire for brushes. A large 
manufacturer in the neighbourhood of Manchester, not content with the 
extensive production of wire cards for carding wool, cotton, &c, has 
applied delicate machinery to the preparation of wire-brushes,, for all 
the various uses to which brushes are put — very fine and flexible for 
flesh-brushes, which are much more delicate and efficient in promoting 
the healthy action of the skin than the harsh horse-hair gloves ; for 
cattle brushes, instead of the hard and coarse curry comb, for hair, 
clothes, hat, sweeping, and all other kinds of brushes. Truly, there is 
no end to novelty of invention, and in this metallic age, iron will have 
the mastery, although its rival, gold, in its abundance and utility, runs 
the baser metal hard. 
During the ten years, from 1840 to 1850, the average import of 
foreign hemp and flax was about 70,000 tons per annum. Last year, 
(1864) including flax, hemp, jute, and other vegetable substances of a 
similar character, it reached 245,046 tons. 
The immense increase of our manufacturing industries, dependent 
upon textile substances for the raw material, is best shown by the fol- 
lowing quantities which were worked up at different periods, stated in 
pounds : — 
