The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

FIBRES, OR SILKEN MATERIAL OF THE PINE APPLE. 189
bleaching flax. I find the period at which the bleaching can
be most conveniently peifoimed, is when the fibre is in the
state called technically " a roving ;" for the coarser yarns the
first stages of the bleaching process will be sufficient, but this
operation must be carried fmther, in proportion to the fineness
of the yarn intended to be spun. The efiect of the bleaching
upon the fibre is, to disengage part of the adhesive matter,
which connects the fine filaments together, and render the
yarn susceptible of longation, between the receiving and de-
livering rollers in spinning, after it has passed through the hot
water ; I therefore claim as my invention, the preparing and
manufacturing into the fibres hereinbefore particularly described
the leaf of the plant commonly called the pine-apple, by any
mode or modes of preparation, and also the application of the
said fibres, when prepared and manufactured, to the several
pmposes hereinbefore also particularly specified, the same bemg
to the best of my knowledge (information, remembrance, and
belief), now and not heretofore practised."
M. de la Rouverie affirms, that he procured a beautiful veg-
etable silk from the Papyfera or paper mulberry ; cutting the
bark while the tree was in sap, beating it with mallets, and
steeping it in water ; he obtained a thread from the fibres, al-
most equal to silk in quality ; and this was woven into a cloth
the texture of w^hich appeared as if formed of that material.
The finest sort of cloth among the inhabitants of Otaheite, and
other of the South Sea Islands, is made of the bark of this
tree.
According to M. Chevremont, Engineer of Mines, " ropes
made of aloes \\di\efour times the resistance of those of hemp
of the same diameter, and made by the same process(?). The
fibres of the aloe contain a resinous substance which protects
the ropes from the action of moisture : even at sea, and renders
the tarring of them unnecessary. They are lighter than hemp-
en ropes, and lose nothing of their strength by being wet(?).
When plunged into water, they are shortened only two per
cent., so that they become less rigid than ropes made of
hemp(?)."
There appears to be a good deal of exaggeration in regard
;