354 PAPER MAKING. 



pieces which compose the form, and of the empty spaces between 

 them. 



The traces of the wire cloth are evidently perceived on the side 

 of the sheet which was attached to the for<n, and on the opposite 

 side they form an assemblage of parallel and rounded risings. As 

 in the paper which is most highly finished the regularity of these 

 impressions is still visible, it is evident that all operations to which 

 it is submitted have chiefly in vi w to soften these impressions with, 

 out destroying them. It is of consequence, therefore, to attend to 

 the combination of labour which operates on these impressions. 

 The coucher, in turning the form on the felt, flattens a little the 

 rounded eminences which are in relievo on one of the surfaces, and 

 occasions at the same time the hollow places made by the wire cloth 

 to be partly tilled up Meanwhile, the effort which is made in de. 

 taching the form produces an infinite number of small hairs on 

 every protuberant part of the sheet. 



Under the action of the press, first with the felts and then with- 

 out them, the perfecting of the grain paper still goes on. The ves. 

 tiges of the protuberances made by the wires are altogether flat- 

 tened, and of consequence the hollows opposite to them disappear 

 also ; but the traces formed by the interstices of the wire, in con- 

 sequence of their thickness, appear on both sides, and are rounded 

 by the press. 



The risings traced on each side of the paper, and which can bo 

 discovered by the eye on that which is most highly finished, form 

 what is called the ^rain of paper. The different operations ought 

 to soften, but not destroy it ; which is effectually done by employ- 

 ing the hammer. This grain appears in the Dutch paper; which 

 is a sufficient proof that though ttiey have brought this part of the 

 art to the greatest perfection, they have not employed hammers, 

 but more simple and ingenious means. The grain of paper is often 

 disfigured by the felts when they are too much used, or when the 

 wool does not cover the thread. In this case, when the paper is 

 submitted to the press, it takes these additional traces of the warp 

 ami the woof, and composes a surface extremely irregular. 



The pap-i the grain of which is highly softened, is much fitter 

 for the purposes of writing than that which is smoothed by the 

 hammer : on the other hand, a coarse and unequal grain very much 

 opposes the movements of the pen; as that which is beat renders 

 them very uncertain. The art of making paper, therefore, should 



