147 C 175 ] 



improper regulation of the heat in the water: first, when it is not suffi- 

 cient to make them wind ofl'easy; or, second, when it is too great, 

 and occasions burrs, which may stop at some of the holes through which 

 the thread runs. Cocoons, also, which have two worms enclosed, will 

 perpetually break. The whole thread may also break, by burrs stop- 

 ping at the holes in the plate, or by the reel's being turned by jerks. 

 It may be fastened, like the fibres, by laying the parts on one another, 

 and giving them a little twist. To avoid the breaking, occasioned by 

 burrs, the rampins should be just so wide a$ to let them easily pass. 



It would be convenient for the spinner tJD have a little stick erect- 

 ed close to the side of the basin, to hanj^ her whisk on, and also a 

 sharp fork, with which she may draw a?lvay the spent cocoons; or 

 such, as being near spent, stick at the hfiles in the plate: and as the 

 whisk will frequently take up more end^ than are immediately to be 

 added, and as the spinner will sometimes have occasion to employ both 

 her hands, the brush will, at that time, conveniently hang by the ba- 

 sin, while the cocoons, which are attached to it, remain in the water, 

 and the ends will be in readiness as they are wanted. When cocoons 

 rise to the iron plate, they are to be drawn down between the fingers 

 of the spread hand. 



If the spinner be under the necessity of leaving off work for any 

 length of time, the cocoons should all be raised with a skimming dish 

 out of the water, till her return; otherwise, by oversoaking, they 

 would wind off in burrs; but it is best to continue the reeling without 

 interruption, and to let fresh, but equally experienced persons succeed 

 those who are tired. 



The person who turns the reel, should have an eye to the threads, 

 and to the guide-wires (rampins) through which they pass, that he 

 may apprize the spinner when any thing is wrong: for her eyes will 

 be sufficiently employed about the cocoons. The reeler might also 

 rectify any thing discovered to be amiss in those parts of the thread 

 which are near the reel: for one hand will always be unemployed, and 

 a stop must occasionally take place. 



Though the reeler can change hands, as they tire, by turning, yet, 

 for ease, he might have a support for his arm opposite to the axle of 

 the reel, and so turn the handle only by that motion which can be 

 given to it by the arm moving upon the elbow as a centre. 



As the heat of the water in the basin will require to be varied, ac- 

 cording to the ease or difficulty with which the different sorts of co- 

 coons give off their silk, the spinner should always have some cold 

 water within reach, in order to cool that in the basin quickly, when 

 the silk comes ofl' too easily, and in burrs. The water is also neces- 

 sary for the woman managing the cocoons, to cool her fingers, and to 

 sprinkle the iron bar when it becomes heated. Some chips or shavings 

 should also be at hand, to increase the heat quickly, when the cocoons 

 do not yield their silk readily. 



If there should happen to be any sand in the water, the heat causes 

 it to rise to the surface and fix on the cocoons — the thread of which 

 will b7-eak as if rut; for this reason, the utmost care must be taken to 



