Coiton-WocU Flax, Hemp, &c, 321 



with a steam-tii^ht cover, and suspending the goods previously 

 impregnated with the alkaline or other lye, as before directed, 

 on frame and net work over boiling water in the said boiler, 

 and employing oxygenated muriatic acid, acidulated waters, 

 mill waj-hing, or exposure to the sun and air when these 

 may be necessary. Particular care must be taken to keep a 

 supply of water or some aqueous solution in the lower part of 

 the boiler below the frame or net work on which the goods 

 lie, as otherwise they may be singed or actually burnt, and a 

 lor-s be consequently incurred. But putting them in steaming- 

 vats is preferable to putting them in a boiler in the manner 

 just described ; and that on several accounts, but especially 

 because by means of one steaming-kettle steam can be thrown 

 into as many vats as can be convenientiy ranged round it ; 

 which is a mean of making a considerable saving in the article 

 of fuel. 



One steaming generally requires from four to eight hours ; 

 but the length of time will vary according to the kind or 

 quality of the goods to be whitened, and the strength of the 

 lye that has been employed for impregnating them. After 

 the. steam has been continued a sufficient length of time, the 

 cover of the steaming-vat is taken off, the communication 

 with the steaming-kettle is cut off by means of the foresaid 

 cock or valve provided for that purpose, and the goods are 

 lifted out by means of a crane or pulley, or other fit mecha^ 

 nical power, as before mentioned. They are then well washed 

 by milling, or by any of the processes followed by bleachers : 

 after this they are again impregnated with lye, steamed, and 

 then washed ; and these manipulations are repeated in the 

 manner that has already been described, till the goods are 

 brought to the required degree of whiteness and purity. The 

 usual operation of steeping in acidulated waters, and exposure 

 to the sun and air, or to the action of the oxygenated mu- 

 riatic acid, in such stages of the process as the bleacher may 

 think proper, may be employed with advantage in this me- 

 thod as well as in the common and usual method of bleach- 

 Bg. Every bleacher's own experience must point out to him, 

 that when acidulated waters, exposure tp the sui> and air, or 

 . Vol. IX, S § the 



