480 



is necessary, also, that the weaver should exert the same 

 force in every stroke of the reed frame, in order to make 

 every part of the cloth equally compact. 



Previous to warping, the yarn must be prepared by 

 sizing and starching, called dressing, in order to cement 

 all the loose fibres, and thus render it smooth, firm, and 

 strong ; and the weaver suspends his operation, from 

 time to time, in order to apply the dressing to his warp. 

 The weft of muslins and thin cotton goods is generally 

 woven into the cloth in a wet state, by which the fibres 

 of the cotton are rendered smooth and parallel, the effect 

 of which is similar to dressing the warp. The operations 

 of hand-loom weaving are simple and soon learned, but 

 it requires much practice to perform these with dexterity 



THE END. 



