me skeiiis hanging vertically in the. hath; then, one after another, the 

 other ends are to be turned and dipped, in order that the parts of the 

 skeins which were out, may be soaked in their turn. This operation 

 (lisen) is to be repeated until the silk shall have uniformly assumed 

 the tint that we wish to give it. For the Indian white, a little azure 

 is added, if it be desired to have the silk of a blueish cast. 



With respect to the thread white, and the other whites, a little azure 

 is added, in proportion to the shades which may be wanted. During 

 the whole of this process, the bath should be hot, but not boiling; and 

 the working is to be continued till the silk shall have acquired a uni- 

 form or equal shade, which is usually effected after four or five work- 

 ings. 



In proportion as the silks become equally finished, they are to be 

 wrung upon the peg; after which, they are to be put upon the sticks in 

 the drying room, or fumigated with sulphur, should it be necessary, 

 as follows: 



Sulpkurijig. 



The silks which are to be sulphured, should be extended on poles 

 placed at seven or eight feet from the ground, in a high apartment 

 without a chimney, or else a lofty garret where the air may freely cir- 

 culate, by leaving the windows and doors open. For every hundred 

 pounds of silk, nearly one pound and a half, or two pounds of roll 

 brimstone are to be put into an earthen pan, or iron kettle, at the bot- 

 tom of which a layer of ashes is to be placed. The rolls of brimstone 

 are to be coarsely pounded, and placed in a heap upon the ashes; one 

 of the bits of brimstone is to be lighted at a candle, and then applied 

 to several parts of the heap to be set on fire. The apartment is then 

 to be well closed; if there be a chimney in it, care must be taken to 

 stop it up well, to prevent the fumes of the brimstone from escaping; the 

 brimstone is to be left burning under the silk during the night. The 

 next day, the door and windows are to be opened, in order to let the 

 smell of the brimstone escape, and to dry the silk, which will suffice in. 

 summer. 



In winter, after the smell is dissipated, the windows are to be closed, 

 and live coals in chafing dishes, placed there to dry the silks. 



The fumigation with brimstone gives a certain firmness to the silk. 



There are stuffs which are always manufactured with raw silks, 

 that is, silk reeled off dry from the cocoons, retaining all their gum 

 and their natural stiffness, because those stuffs are designed to be firm : 

 such as the silk laces, known in commerce by the name of blond laces, 

 gauzes, and others of the kind; nor are these silks boiled; all the other 

 preparations for dying, are however applied to them. But then those 

 which are naturally the whitest must be chosen, and immersed in the 

 water, then wrung and sulphured; and after that they must receive 

 the azure in the clear water, be wrung again, and fumigated with 

 brimstone the second time. 



Experience has taught, that we may proceed as well by plunging 

 them into the soap bath, as for the bleaching, and heated to pueh a dn-^ 

 gree that the hand may be kept in if. 



