1546 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



Huckaback . — An uneven weave with much of the woof showing. Used 

 for toweling because of its rough surface, which easily absorbs moisture 

 and causes the skin to glow. 



Handkerchief linen. — A firm weave. Used for babies' dresses and for 

 handkerchiefs. It is very fine and dainty. 



Linen lawn. — A sheer weave. Used as cambric and handkerchief 

 linen. 



Sheeting. — A wide, firm weave. Used for bed sheets, dresses, and suits 

 because of its durability and beauty. 



WOOL 



Wool comes from the backs of sheep, and it plays an important 

 part in our textile industry. The fiber is curly, has a scaly structure, and 

 is slightly elastic although not very strong. The scaly surface gives wool 

 the property of felting, or the matting together of wool fibers by the 

 interlocking of the projecting edges of the scales. 



Adulterations 



Since the demand for raw wool greatly exceeds the supply, various 

 means are used to adulterate the fabrics. Many of the wool garments on 

 the market to-day are made of shoddy, which consists of odds and ends 

 obtained from the factory, the tailor, and the rag-picker — almost any wool 

 fiber, long enough to have two ends, is used in making woolens. The use 

 of shoddy makes it possible for the supply of woolen goods to be as large 

 as it is to-day. If new wool alone were used, the supply of materials 

 would be so far below the demand that many persons would have to go 

 without warm woolen clothing. 



The objection to the use of shoddy is that often materials sold for high 

 prices and supposed to be of new wool are made for the most part from 

 old, short wool, and the customer is not receiving what he asks and pays 

 for. Besides, the materials made from a large percentage of shoddy are 

 not so durable as those made from new wool, although they are as warn 

 as, if not warmer than, those from closely woven new wool. 



Cotton, treated to appear like wool, is used in large quantities to 

 adulterate wool. 



Tests for adulteration 

 The ends of broken threads of wool fibers will appear kinky, wiry, and 

 uneven when compared with the even, tufted ends of cotton fibers. 

 Wool fibers pull apart when broken, while cotton fibers snap. 



