{"product_id":"tarred-jute-twine-roll","title":"Tarred Jute Twine Roll","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis tarred twine is weatherproof so lasts longer, fading down to a buff natural finish, and making it ideal for structures such as gazebos, wigwams, pole planters, etc.  Gorgeous deep chocolate colour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll natural, imported from UK over a decade ago!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorically jute and other natural fibres were treated with pine tar to protect them from water, rot, mildew and UV damage and to enhance their grip, making them suitable for maritime applications. These sailors’ twines were called ‘marlines’, with the name coming from the act of marling, whereby thinner tarred lines like this one were used to bind the ends of larger ropes to stop them from fraying and unravelling. Nowadays twines and ropes are preserved and strengthened using a range of different materials, including waxes, polymers and tars made from wood, peat, coal or petroleum. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJute is often referred to as hessian or burlap when it is in its woven fabric form. It is made from the bast and core fibres of plants of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCorchorus\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003especies that are grown commercially in India and Bangladesh. It is one of the cheapest natural fibres and is grown in quantities second only to cotton. In order to turn this plant into a useable twine, the silky, flexible fibres are separated from the woody stalk by one of two methods. Fibres might be isolated by biological means, for example by allowing the plant to rot in the field or by ‘retting’ it in a shallow pond: in both instances enzymes produced by bacteria and moulds degrade and remove woody and gummy materials, freeing the fibres. Alternatively, fibres might be separated by mechanical means: at the simplest level, stems might be beaten it on a rock, or more complex mechanical machinery might be used to roll, squash, sieve or cut the fibres from the stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBesides its maritime heritage, tarred jute twine is also a favourite of gardeners (including Monty Don of Gardeners World fame) for tying everything from beanstalks and bamboo to gazebos. According to gardeners’ lore, it is unpalatable to birds who might want to unpick it for their nests, and slugs and snails won’t cross it. (History lesson clipped from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instituteofmaking.org.uk\/materials-library\/library\/waxed-jute-twine\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.instituteofmaking.org.uk\/materials-library\/library\/waxed-jute-twine )\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Merchant \u0026 Traders","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54335611240758,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/6296\/2230\/files\/IMG_5958.jpg?v=1785296176","url":"https:\/\/www.merchantandtraders.com.au\/products\/tarred-jute-twine-roll","provider":"The Merchant \u0026 Traders","version":"1.0","type":"link"}