Specification of US Letters Patent No. 48,782, granted July 18, 1865 to Stephen M. Allen of Woburn, Massachusetts. It describes a "flossing process" that rots or ferments long-line fibers such as flax, hemp, jute and China grass, then strands and scrapes them into fibrils with a cotton-like consistency. The treated fiber can then be spun and woven on ordinary cotton and woolen machinery, alone or blended with cotton or wool. Three claims cover the fiber, the yarn, cloth, felt or paper-stock made from it, and mixtures with other fibers.