A Catechism of Familiar Things | Page 9

from the Greek,
signifying the Ægean Sea.
Is the Wool of the sheep all of one quality?
No; it varies according to the species of sheep, the soil on which they
are fed, and the part of the animal from which it is taken: the chief
distinction is between the long and the short wool; the long wool is
employed in the manufacture of carpets, crapes, blankets, &c.; and the
finer and shorter sorts for hosiery, broadcloths &c.
Where were Carpets originally made?
Carpets are of oriental origin, and are made of different sorts of stuffs;
they are woven in a variety of ways. Persian and Turkey carpets are
most esteemed; they are woven in a piece, in looms of a very simple
construction. Formerly the manufacture of these carpets was confined
to Persia and Turkey; but they are now successfully made, both in
Europe and the United States, &c. Great Britain is the principal seat of
the carpet manufacture of the world. Brussels, Wilton, and
Kidderminster carpets derive their names from the places where they
were invented.

Is not the art of weaving very ancient?
It appears to have been known from a period as early as the time of
Abraham and Jacob; its inventor is not known, but it is possible that
men took a lesson from the ingenious spider, which weaves its web
after the same manner. The ancient Egyptians appear to have brought it
to great perfection, and were even acquainted with the art of
interweaving colors after the manner of the Scottish plaid.
What is Baize?
A coarse, open, woollen stuff, with a long nap. It is chiefly made in the
United States, England, France, &c.
What is Linen?
There are various kinds of linen, made from cotton, flax, and hemp; but
the term is chiefly applied to that woven with the two last mentioned.
Linen means cloth of flax; hence its derivation from the Latin word
linum, flax.
What is Flax?
An annual plant, the fibres of which are beaten into threads, spun, and
afterwards woven into linen; it is extensively cultivated in the United
States, Russia, and some other countries of Europe. Hemp is a plant of
a similar nature, equally used with flax, in the manufacture of linens.
Russian hemp is cultivated to a larger extent than that of any other
country, and is considered the best that is grown.
How long has the use of Hemp and Flax been known?
Those plants are said to be natives of Persia, and introduced from some
parts of the East into Europe, over which it is now widely distributed: it
existed both in a wild and cultivated state, in some parts of Russia, as
early as five centuries before Christ These products form a considerable
article of exportation, besides the quantity used in Russia itself; a
considerable part is wrought into linens, diapers, canvas, and other

manufactures; and even the seeds are exported, both in their natural
state and as oil. In various parts of Russia, hemp-seed oil and flax-seed
(or linseed) oil are prepared in very large quantities.
What is Diaper?
A sort of linen cloth, woven in flowers, and other figures; it is said to
have received its name from d'Iper, now Ypres, a town of Belgium,
situated on a river of the same name, where it was first made.
What is Holland?
A fine, close, even, linen cloth, used for sheets, &c. It obtained its
name from being principally made in Holland.
What is Canvas?
A hempen cloth, so loosely woven as to leave interstices between the
threads, in little squares. It is used for working in patterns upon it with
wools, &c.; by painters for a ground work on which they draw their
pictures; for tents, sails, and many other purposes. There are several
sorts, varying in the fineness of their texture.
What is Damask?
A sort of silken stuff, having some parts raised on its surface to
represent flowers or figures. It took its name from Damascus, in Syria,
whence it was first brought.
Is there not another sort of Damask?
Yes, made from linen; and so called because its large flowers resemble
those of damask roses. It was first made in Flanders, and is used for
table linen, &c.
What is Flannel?
A slight, loose, woollen stuff, used for warm clothing; it was originally
made in Wales, where it still continues to be manufactured in great

perfection.
CHAPTER IV.
COCOA, TODDY, CHERRIES, BARK, CORK, COCHINEAL,
CLOVES, CINNAMON, AND CASSIA.
Of what form is the tree which bears those large nuts, called Cocoa
nuts?
It is tall and straight, without branches, and generally about thirty or
forty feet high; at the top are twelve leaves, ten feet long, and half a
foot broad; above the leaves, grows a large excrescence in the