170 SILK. 



The next process is to pick the cocoons, or take 

 off the floss, which is sometimes done by children. 

 Other reelers run the floss off after the cocoons are 

 placed in the water. The water in the basin or pot 

 should be soft, such as rain water, and heated to 

 about 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Experience, howev- 

 er, is necessary to ascertain the temperature required, 

 as different qualities of cocoons require different de- 

 grees of heat in the water. Generally, the water 

 should be nearly to boiling heat, and kept so by means 

 of a furnace under the pot or basin. If the water is 

 too cold, the thread will not run freely ; but will catch 

 and draw up to the reel ; and if too hot, the silk will 

 come off in flakes, which will ruin the even texture 

 of the fabric or sewing silk. A brisker fire or a lit- 

 tle cold water will remedy defects. 



The water being of the proper temperature, a dou- 

 ble hand full of cocoons are thrown into the pot or ba- 

 sin and stirred with a stick split at the ends, or with 

 a broom corn wisp, which will catch the floating 

 fibres ; and if the cocoons have been picked before, 

 these fibres may be immediately attached to the reel 

 as fast as found. If the floss has not been previously 

 taken off, it may be run off after catching up the end. 

 When the silk begins to run smoothly and evenly, it 

 may be broken off; the one end fastened to the reel, 

 and the other, which is floss, may be laid aside among 

 the refuse silk. When a sufficient number of the 

 fibres are obtained, they should be united, and passed 



