102 



thread which might otherwise be lost in the skein, and 

 become extremely difficult to find. First squeeze it 

 together gently on the bars all around which will loosen 

 it ; then with a string of refuse silk, tie it on the place 

 which bore on the bars of the reel; then carefully slide 

 it from the reel and make another tie on the opposite 

 end of the skein. After this it is doubled, and tied near 

 each extremity, and laid by for sale or for use, in a dry 

 place. 



The value of silk when ready for sale depends on the 

 absence of knobs and of 'knots which occasion it to be 

 called jfcci To judge if silk be clean, or free from im- 

 perfections, is an art very easily attained. It is only 

 necessary to stand with your back to the window, and to 

 1 open- the skei'n,:and looking down in the direction o 

 '-'the light,; any foulness which may exist, is readily per- 

 ceived, by the practised eye. But the fineness of the 

 thread -is! determined by a certain known admeasurement 

 of the circumference of the reel and skein, the number 

 of threads, and the weight. A given number, usually 

 a skein of 400 revolutions, is removed from the reel 

 and accurately weighed. 



SECTION XXXVI. 

 FORMATION OF ORGANZINE, SEWING SILK, &c. 



THE outside of the cocoon, which is formed of a 

 loose furzy substance, constitutes one-tenth of the weight 

 of the whole silk ; this is called by the French, flcuret ; 

 to this is added all those threads called waste silk, which 

 from want of skill, or defect in the cocoons, become 

 broken in reeling, or doubling, or twisting. After be- 

 ing boiled in soap suds and combed, and spun on the 

 spinning wheel, it is called bourre dc Soie, or filoselle, or 



