. The natural history of the farm; a guide to the practical study of the sources of our living in wild nature. Natural history. l6o NATURAL HISTORY OP THE FARM Cottonwood, thistle and milkweed, produc- ing fiber abundantly. The fiber products of the world's farms are exceeded in value only by the food pro- ducts. The chief ani- mal fibers are, in the order of value, wool, silk and hair: the chief plant fibers are cotton, flax and hemp. None of the plants or animals concerned is ^'^eed pods°"°""'''"'"^ '""^' '""'"^ *""' ""&qu
. The natural history of the farm; a guide to the practical study of the sources of our living in wild nature. Natural history. l6o NATURAL HISTORY OP THE FARM Cottonwood, thistle and milkweed, produc- ing fiber abundantly. The fiber products of the world's farms are exceeded in value only by the food pro- ducts. The chief ani- mal fibers are, in the order of value, wool, silk and hair: the chief plant fibers are cotton, flax and hemp. None of the plants or animals concerned is ^'^eed pods°"°""'''"'"^ '""^' '""'"^ *""' """"" native to our soU. We have not found out how to use any of the native fiber products with profit. In this, as in so many other fields, the great discoveries of nature's material resources were made by our forefathers in other lands and in a far distant age, antedating history. The chief use for fiber products is found in the making of textiles. After feeding people, the next sure good, accord- ing to Ruskin, is in clothing people; and this demands great quantities of textiles. The kinky fibers of wool lend them- selves ideally to the spinning process. They will hang together in simple yams which may be knit or woven into warm clothing for cold climates. The soft fibers of linen make clothing that is cool and that may readily be kept clean for summer use. The shorter and finer fibers of cotton, being produced in greatest abundance, make the cheapest of clothing and are used in the greatest variety of ways, alone and in combination with wool, flax and Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Needham, James G. (James George), 1868-1956. Ithaca, N. Y. , The Comstock Publishing Company
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
