Show yarn made from nettle S german magazine says stinger slinger 16 1 boiled into flax and used as an cotton substitute Pres Prea lau the much abused stinging nettle has it seems a commercial value A german magazine says a process has been discovered by which the nettle can be made to yield a supply 0 of smooth bleached yard at a price considerably less than that of raw cotton the nettles aro are harvested twice a year and when dry they lose the power to sting sling and can be handled bandied like flax to remove the leaves and twigs the naked stems are then boiled boll ed in diluted soda 43 4 ya 3 in open kettles for hall half an hour or so until the fiber begins to loosen when it la Is separated by a revolving brush machine the process 0 of refinement Is completed by repeated bollings boi lings and by thorough washings also under pressure the product now consists of perfectly clean gummed de lustrous fibers of a yellowish tint proper bleaching methods change this color to dazzling white at ito same bame time heightening the natural luster the nettle fiber Is now ready to be treated like other textile threads that Is to say bay it can be combed carded and spun when all Is done the aln dished yarn Is as aa soft and smooth as flax with only a slight woodiness remaining it if there Is anything in this process the nettle will certainly cease to lo bo be a despised weed |