150 Vegetable Fibres Available, etc. * 
In the pressent state of manufactures, the fibre would pro- 
bably be most valued, in its simply washed and opened 
state to work asa flax ; and would then at a low price pro- 
duce a warm, even, strong cloth of considerable beauty. 
Pine Apple Fibve—On examining this fibre, we cannot 
but indulge the idle regret that the aggregation of endo- 
genous fibres unqualify them for sustaining the part for 
which some of the properties of this fibre in particular 
would have rendered it so valuable, had they been linked 
with others unfortunately wanting. It is of considerable 
strength and possesses the property of splitting up into long 
filaments of the fineness of jute, but possessing double its 
strength. These single filaments are employed in semi- 
civilised countries, as if yarns, for weaving into a glassy 
cloth or muslin. The filament is capable of considerable 
sub-division, but from the interlinking of the cells, becomes 
jagged and tender. The cells are of fineness, almost ex- 
ceeding any silk: very soft and bright, but are not more 
than a quarter of an inch in length ; the fibre cannot there- 
fore be used in that state, and can be extensively useful 
for fabrics only as a flax-cotton, much inferior than from 
the cheapest hemps; or, for ropes; or, as a magnificent 
paper-material, for which it is. probably one of the best 
fibres known. It appears to be obtainable in large quan- 
tities at very moderate prices; and it may naturally be 
asked (though a subject foreign to this inquiry), how it 
happens that English capital does not bring forward im- — 
mense quantities of such fibres, prepared into half-stuff on 
the spot, by adapted machinery, in which form it would be 
conveyable at as moderate freights as coal. It cannot be 
the fear of too little profit, or of limited demand. It should 
be enough to know that thousands of tons of this fibre rot 
annually on the ground, which could be procured at mere 
cost of labour and transit. It scarcely needs bleaching,as it | 
cleanses into one of thewhitest fibrous materials which exist. 
The papers shown as produced from it, form no criterion of 
its value, having been evidently produced from it in an 
uncleansed state, and not thoroughly disaggregated. 
Where toughness combined with fineness is the object 
sought, its value must be very high. 
(To be continued.) 
