O F S I L K. 267 



Mr. Vaucanfon fays, that filk reeled in 

 the crofs has an appearance as if it were 

 twirted J that this can be no more than an 

 appearance I think requires little proof, for 

 the end of the filk-thread at the reel and 

 at the pods may be fuppofed fixed, and 

 therefore any twill which is given at 

 the place of crofling, goes off as foon as 

 that part of the thread has pafled the crof- 

 fing ; it can no more remain than if one 

 fliould fallen any flretched thread at its 

 two extremes, and then twid it in the 

 middle between the finger and thumb, as 

 foon as thofe are withdrawn the thread 

 untwifts. 



The real advantages of crofling are the 

 wringing out the fuperfluous moiflure, 

 and the comprefTion of the thread, where- 

 by it is rendered more compa6l : the incon- 

 venience attending this method is the fre- 

 quent breaking to which crofs'd threads are 

 fubje6l. I leave it to experience to deter^ 

 mine whether the following method will 

 not procure advantages neaily equal to 

 thofe which arife from winding in the crofs 

 without its difadvantages. 



Let a flender fquare pole of about three 

 or four foot long be fixed perpendicular in 



the 



