OCR Text |
Show Nettles, na Substitute for Cotton, Tho Bonrch for n cotton substitute linn been going on In J-Juropo for a long tlrno, mid mnny cxporlmcntH hnvo been made with tho common net tlo, which ban becjn n promising plnnt on uccount of tho Btrcngth of Itn fiber and itn rondy giowth wild under tho most discouraging conditions, with a largo ylolcl pot aero. Tho groat dim. culty lins boon In sonnrating tho llbor from the woody item. In a method of trcntment that has boon worked out In tho last two or throo years, tho dried notllo stems aro bollod about half nn hour In dlluto Koda lyo, and tho loononod libers are then separated In maohliio with revolving briiBhoa. Tho material In thon subjected to a numbor or altcrnnto bolllngB In dlltito lyo and thorough waBhlngn, both un dor high protiBuro Tho product Ib n mass or yellowish nbcra, froo from gum, that cnu bo blenched, combed, and npuu Into ltiBtroiiK white yarn. This Ib claimed to have tho smooth' nous nnd floftnesa of (lax, with n strength oven grcntor than that of hemp Tho yarn has been mndo Into brilliant damask, nnd can bo lined-nlono lined-nlono or with othor throads for up-holBlorloB, up-holBlorloB, ribbons, and u variety of fabrics. |