TEAZLE (Dipsaens Fullonune) is a plant which grows wild in the hedges, but an im proved variety is carefully cultivated in those districts of England where cloth is manufac. tured. It is used for the purpose of forming a species of brush with which the finer hairs of the woollen fabric are drawn to the surface, where they produce what is usually called the nap of the cloth. The teazle has a fine hooked awn, which very readily insinuates itself into the woollen web, and draws out with it some of the fine fibres of the wool ; these are afterwards shorn smooth, and leave the cloth with the fine velvet-like nap which is its peculiar appearance.
Teazles will grow in any soil; but they grow strongest and best in a stiff loam. The wild teazle which grows in hedges appears at first sight to be the same as the cultivated variety; but it is of no use to the cloth-worker, from tho weakness of the awns, which break off, instead of drawing the wool out of the surface of the web. The growing of teazles is a
peculiar trade, and a kind of speculation, for the crop is very precarious. The teazle-grower hires a piece of ground suited to his purpose from the farmer for two years, and pays a considerable rent.
The dressing of a piece of cloth consumes a great number of teazles ; as many as 1,500 to 2,000 being required to do the work properly. The teazles are made up in bundles for sale to the clothiers, containing 9,000 or 10,000 each. The price is affected by so many circumstances, that it varies from 1/. to 20/. per pack or bundle ; but when the home price exceeds about 8/. the clothier can import more cheaply from abroad.