THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 



gum which fastens the threads becomes uniforml}^ and thoroughly softened. 

 The}' are then beaten with a small birchen broom, having the tips split so 

 that the loose threads readily fasten to them. After beating a short time 

 the operator gets all the cocoons flistened, and, taking the bundle of threads, 

 shakes the cocoons till each hangs but by a single one. She now takes up 

 five or more threads, (hrins) according to_^the quality of silk wanted, unites 

 them and introduces the combined staple or strand ( /?/) into a little glass 

 eye on one side of the basiVi. She then forms a second similar strand and 

 introduces it into a second eye on the other side. The strands are thei:i 

 brought together, twisted several times, separated above the twist, and intro- 

 duced into two other glass eyes or ringlets through which they are led one 

 to each end of the reel or tambour which is kept revolving in a steady rapid 

 manner and to which is also given a certain back-and-forth side motion. 

 The great object in reeling is to get the threads uniform, rounded, well 

 joined, proj^erly freed of moisture, and so crossed on the reel that they will 

 not stick or glaze as it is termed. These objects are attained by the twist- 

 ing and by the to-and-fro lateral movement of the reel, as also b}^ properly 

 regulating the distance between reel and basin. The uniformity of the thread 

 depends on the skill of the operator, who must supj^l}- a new thread as soon 

 as one begins to give out. This is called nourishing the silk and is done by 

 dexteriously casting, with the thumb, the new thread onto the combined 

 strand to which it immediately adheres. In this she must use much judgment, 

 for the silk of a cocoon graduallj^ gets lighter and finer as it approaches the 

 end, and the uniforniity of strand does not entirely dej^end on the uniformity 

 in number of the individual threads forming it. Whenever the silk rises in 

 locks the temperature of the water is known to be too hot; and when it 

 unwinds with difficulty, the temperature, on the contrary, is too low. The 

 oj^erator is supplied with a skimmer with which to remove all chr^'salides and 

 refuse silk ; also with a basin of cold water in which to cool her fingers 

 which are being constantlj^ dipped in the hot basin. This constitutes the 

 whole oi^eration of unwinding; but before the skeins, as they come from the 

 reel, are ready for the manufacturer, they must undergo still further man- 

 ijjulation. The staple is first passed through a cleanser, consisting of a clasp 

 lined with cloth, which catches any loose silk or other matter that may be 

 adhering to it. It is then further cleansed and purged by being passed 

 through four similar Cleansers (purgeurs) ; then twisted about 500 times to 

 the yard ; then doubled and again twisted about 400 times to the yard. It is 

 finally run on to reels about 1^ feet in diameter and taken off and twisted 

 in a peculiar knot or hank. Through all these operations the oscillating to- 

 and-fro lateral motion is kept ujd so as to produce the diagonal crossing of 

 the strands ; and it will be readily understood that each staple is in the end 

 composed of ten or more of the simple threads first spun by the worm. 



Tne loose or flock silk, together with all which, from one cause or another, 

 cannot be reeled, is soaked in water for three days, boiled for one-half hour 

 in clear lye, washed in rain water, and when dry, carded and spun : it makes 

 an inferior floss silk. 



