A NEW WOOL ADULTERANT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2188, 12 October 1920, Page 4

A NEW WOOL ADULTERANT.

CHINESE VEGETABLE FIBRE,

A vegetable fibre, ready a’Chinese grass grown in the heart of the .Celestial Empire, seems likely to be a very useful commodity in the textile world, says the Bradford correspondent of the .Sydney Aloriling Herald. As far as is known, it is the only vegetable fibre which has a serrated edge like wool, and after many experiments by a leading Huddersfield firm of manufacturers seven loading textile men have formed a company, and are at present engaged in marketing the raw material after being treated. 'Hie writer has handled tlio stuff, and must say that lie is surprised with the results. It appears that this grass grows two qualities of fibre on the same stem. The roots and the lower portion of the grass ary coarse, resembling about 46’s quality, while the top portion is equal to 60’.s to 64’s quality. That is a very unique feature. It is taken and treated, the colour becoming a passable white. The price is,l4jd for the “crossbred”, and 24d per lb for the liner quality, which resembles merino. It will never equal wool, and wo very much doubt if it could be manufactured by itself, except, into a very thick .yarn. It is really a wool adulterant, and will ever remain such. There is not the elasticity in the, fibre that there is in wool, but the vegetable fibre being serrated it mills till right in (he fabric. 'Che best results are obtained when mixed with wool. The writer was shown a 24-skein yarn, the blend being 27 per cent, of the vegetable fibre. 28 per cent, of cotton, and 45 per cent, of merino wool, tlie resultant; yarn being made into a very nice shirting. This wool adulterant being very jiincli cheaper than eil her • cotton, mnngo, or shoddy, it seems destined to occupy a very useful position, and after the first prejudices of manufacturers have been overcome it should be a useful enmmodily. it, dyes all right, and Ihe fabrics seen impressed one .very favourably indeed.