^56 THE CULTURE 



ikimming difti, take off any fcum which 

 rifes on the top. 



For the hardeft fort of pods a fcalding 

 heat will be neceffary, but a lefs degree for 

 the others. However, the heat cannot be 

 afcertained till you begin to reel, for then, 

 if the filk comes o'ft in burrs, or lumps 

 not ftretched to their extent, the water is 

 too hot, and the fire muft be abated un- 

 der it. On the contrary if the filk comes 

 off with difnculty, which is known by the 

 pods often leaping out of the water, it is 

 then too cool, and the fire mufl be in- 

 creafed. 



The fpinner, which is flie who attends 

 the management of the filk-pods in the 

 cauldron, muft be provided with a brufll 

 made of the iinefl twigs, or tops of heath 

 bound together, and cut off Hat at the 

 brufll part. Then being feated before the 

 cauldron, flie throws into it an handful or 

 two of the fiik-pods, of one fort or de- 

 gree of firmnefs, and preffing them gently 

 under water with the flat brufh, the ends 

 of the filk-pods will adhere to the twigs : 

 fhe then takes as many of thefe ends as are 

 neceffary, according to tlie thicknefs fhe 

 intends her thread, and, bringing them to- 



getb.cr. 



