VEGETABLE FIBRES AVAILABLE FOR TEXTILE FABRICS. 499 
other properties when prepared for fabrics, which exist in the natural 
filaments before preparation. A consideration of the widely differing 
states will at once convince us that is possible that the exact opposite 
may be the reality. Take Phormium tenax, the New Zealand flax, as 
an example. This fibre in its natural state u of immense strength, and 
is also worked by the Maories t j a great degree of fineness in certain 
ways, that is, by cleansing and combing out the ends of the filaments as 
a fine lustrous fringe. The separated cells possess great brilliancy, but 
instead of being long and strong as has been inferred, they do not ex- 
ceed j to § inch in length, and are amongst the weakest of fibres. But 
when it is considered that the fibres are coated with a large amount of 
vegetable matter, amongst which tannin is decidedly marked, which, 
with the proteic bodies invariably present in fibres, will form a sort 
of brittle leather, we cannot wonder that, when built up into long fila- 
ments, it should class amongst the toughest of fibres. No better familiar 
simile can be given of this difference of strength than a billiard ball 
now making, constituted chiefly of about the shortest of all fibrous sub- 
stances, (paper pulp) which, when mixed with glue, becomes so tough 
that no fall or ordinary amount of beating can destroy it. The sus- 
ceptibility of Phormium tenax for dyes has also been much spoken of. 
But will not this be accounted for by the fact of its being used by the 
Maories in a half-cleansed state when the tannin would naturally 
fix dyes forcibly. When fully cleansed, capable of being worked 
on European machinery, it appears to possess no such remarkable 
property. 
The lists of comparative strength of other fibres published, as having 
been tested against each other at various times, though doubtless ex- 
cellent practical tests of their value for ropes, or for sackcloth, form no 
criterion of their strength when prepared for manufacturing into fabrics, 
as is exemplified in the case of New Zealand flax. Their strength for 
this purpose being solely dependent upon the length and strength of 
their individual cells, and upon the surface form of these cells whether 
favourable or otherwise to binding together in spinning. 
In resuming the subject we will endeavour to seek out the proper- 
ties and adaptabilities of some known fibres, and conclude with an in- 
quiry how far their attempted treatment accords with that required by 
their supposed chemical composition. 
4 Albion villas, Hammersmith, 
