THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
AN INQUIRY INTO VEGETABLE FIBRES AVAILABLE FOR 
TEXTILE FABRICS. 
BY H. SHERWOOD. 
During many years past a considerable number of fibres easily obtain- 
able have been brought into notice, some of which appear to possess 
peculiar excellencies ; but, though recently the market value of the 
great staples of manufacture has been, and still continues high, and 
thus every inducement has been offered to bring into use some of those 
fibres, yet the advance towards this end has been but small. Cotton 
cloths and linen cloths remaining substantially the only vegetable fabrics 
possessed by us. Still, the public mind has been awake to the importance 
of the subject ; and many attempts have been made, chiefly towards 
attaining an end laid down as the great necessity of the times,— viz the 
bringing of a fibre into the market in a state suitable to be worked on 
cotton machinery, and to fulfil all the peculiar uses of cotton. The 
object of these notes is to inquire how far a just view of the general 
subject prevails, — how far the endeavours towards utilising new fibres 
have been reasonable, and to seek light on the manner of their suitable 
treatment. 
Of all fibres doubtless cotton is one of the most desirable. The 
evenness of thickness, the length, strength, and softness, of each fibre, 
together with its flattened spiral form, adapting it so admirably for 
spinning into high count yarns, will cause it ever to retain its prominence 
for an immense class of fabrics. Little also is left to be desired in the 
perfection of its manufacture. But, the day was when cotton was un- 
known in Europe ; and in like manner as cotton has found its specially 
suitable uses, so doubtless other fibres will be found to have theirs, 
uses which are now usurped by the less suitable staples of flax and 
cotton. 
Flax and its kindred fibres do not appear to have advanced very 
much in perfection of manufacture even from early ages. Evenness of 
vol. vi. 3 v 
