496 VEGETABLE FIBRES AVAILABLE FOR TEXTILE FABRICS. 
yarn appears the chief aim in most proposed improvements in flax, which 
cannot be expected to be fully attained from fibrous material used with 
masses of cells agglutined together, and consequently liable to unevenness. 
Hemp might probably with great advantage have its uses considerably 
extended by improved states in which to use it. Jute is probably used 
to its full capabilities and certainly further than the public approve of. 
Beyond these staples the utilization of other fibres appears almost 
confined to semi-civilised nations consuming local products. Their 
manner of using these, though some are probably worthy of considera- 
tion even by manufacturing Europe, are beyond the subject of this 
enquiry. The few which Europe has attempted appear to have been in- 
tended chiefly for mixing with other fibres now in use. But is it not 
doubtful whether this design in their use may not be in the main de- 
fective ? Each fibre has its own speciality, which may be a peculiar 
excellency or a peculiar beauty, and many may produce cloths as totally 
different from cotton or linen, as these differ from each other. Is it not 
also doubtful whether the imperative necessity for fibres to be workable 
on cotton machinery be not the demand for idle machinery rather than 
of thinking men able to adapt machinery to requirements ? Though some 
fibres exist which appear eminently adapted for mixing with silk and 
with combed wool, yet probably these fibres are destined to be more 
used alone than in any combination. But we may presume that the 
raw materials appearing on the market in a state suitable for the manu- 
facturer, would create their own machinery, their own suitable uses, and 
their own demand. 
The attempts at improvement in the use of fibres have very properly 
taken the direction of dividing the filaments from their natural state 
of further separation, or into the individual cells of which each filament 
is composed. Amongst the earlier attempts made during the last fifteen 
years appear prominent those of the Chevalier Claussen who un- 
fortunately erred through claiming qualities for his products which could 
not reasonably exist. That split filaments of flax should dye much 
better than whole filaments equally cleansed from loose vegetable matter, 
is what cannot be conceded ; nor that they should acquire a greater 
felting property than the corresponding increase of number of filaments 
would give. Neither can it be allowed that any fibrous material uneven 
in breadth of filament, should be suitable for mixing with wool Or silk, if 
beauty of yarns be necessary. Nevertheless, though the material was 
rendered imperfect through erroneous treatment (the cause of the evil 
effects of which have since been demonstrated during researches on the 
rotting effect of silicates on cotton cloth), the state of fibre was mani- 
festly a step in the right direction, and pointed to a new character of 
cloth, producible from less expensive fibres than flax, equidistant from 
cotton and linen, possessing more warmth and softness than the latter, 
and for heavy fabrics more strength and firmness than the former. 
