WOOL 



177 



wound upon the spindles and the carriage moves forward 

 again. 



Weaving. This operation is similar to that described on 

 page 166. 



Fulling. A fibre of wool besides being curly has an uneven 

 surface ; it is covered with innumerable tiny notches, and this 

 characteristic makes possible the operation of fulling. The 



SHEEP SHEARING, SOUTH AFRICA 



cloth, after the grease has been removed, is saturated with 

 soapy water and pounded. This was formerly done by 

 placing it in a trough and thumping it with great hammers ; 

 now more complicated machinery is employed, but the result 

 is the same. The heated soapy fibres expand, and the little 

 notches dovetail into one another so that a compact surface 

 is formed, and all traces of the original weft and warp entirely 

 disappear. 



2203 



