REELING SILK. 



SORTING COCOONS. 



Before commencing the operation of reeling, the 

 reeler should sort the cocoons and place them in sep- 

 arate parcels, according to their quality. The quali- 

 ties of cocoons admit of five varieties and are known 

 by the names of double cocoons the chiques or 

 skins the fine the demi-fine and the satin cocoons. 

 The double cocoons are those in which two or three 

 worms have worked and enclosed themselves togeth- 

 er. They are larger than the single ones ; the chiques 

 or skin cocoons are softer and resist much less to 

 pressure the fine cocoons are those of which the 

 surface presents a very fine and very close grain the 

 demi-fine are of a more loose and larger grain the 

 satin cocoons are those of a still inferior quality. 

 Though cocoons are not ordinarily so particularly 

 sorted ; yet when it is intended to reel silk of an ex- 

 tra nice fibre, it is desirable they should be. 



Before reeling, they should also be cleaned from 

 the floss and loose threads with which they are envel- 

 oped. This is done by having them picked off bjr 

 children. 



REELING. 



The reeler, having prepared the cocoons as above 

 directed, is now in readiness to commence reeling. 

 And here it is proper to state, that reeling may be 

 done at any season, but best in dry weather, and that 

 the softest water should also be chosen for soaking the 

 cocoons. 



The cocoons are to be put into a basin, or some 

 Bother vessel of water, placed over a moderate fire in 

 *7 



