Textile Fabrics. 95 
should be so ascertained and defined as to mark clearly 
their special suitability for various uses. Such a definition 
would much aid the progress of improvement. The writer 
trusts, that attention being drawn to the subject, and the 
lack being perceived, more extended research will be made 
public than the petty quota he now endeavours to con- 
tribute. 
Let us examine first, China grass and its varieties. 
These vary considerably in strength and fineness, growing 
generally to eight feet or more in length, according 
to climate and soil. They are capable of being easily 
cleansed from loose vegetable matter, so as to produce 
long filaments of great strength, which for fabrics 
requiring excessive strength, would be much superior 
to flax or hemp, though in comparison with these fibres 
in the same state of preparation, the filaments are rough 
and coarse, consequently, less adapted for light uses. 
Its highest value is attained in a state of separated cells, 
which vary from three to eighteen inches in length; of 
surprising wiry toughness and brilliancy when properly 
cleansed and uninjured by preparation; of good colour 
needing little orno bleaching. In this state it has now come 
into acknowledged use, although on the market much 
impaired and imperfect. Being in appearance, fineness, 
and length, similar to mohair and lustre wools, it appears 
well adapted for mixing with them, or for forming warps 
for lustre wefts. For mixing with silk fibres its utility 
seems more doubtful; being so much coarser and stiffer. 
Yet as a weft yarn for silk warps it appears adapted to form 
cloths of great beauty. Nor need want of colour be here 
a drawback, as it appears capable of being dyed in colours, 
apparently permanent of a full rich red, violet and blue. 
There is little doubt that from the fibre so separated, 
European manufacturers could produce cloths exceeding 
in fineness and evenness, and consequently in beauty and 
brilliancy, the famed grass cloths of China./ These cloths 
might not be so fine, and could not be more brilliant than 
a flax cambric can be produced; but they would possess a 
glassy stiffness, (so opposite to the tendency of flax to 
become linty), which would command for them a high 
appreciation and value. The use of China grass in this 
state for fancy trimming manufacturing is apparent, as also 
for many fabrics for ladies’ dress and for some upholstery 
cloths. Probably also for superior fancy drills, it would 
produce goods highly appreciated on the continent and in 
warmer climates. 
