62 REELING SILK. 



of the thread, otherwise it may mix with the threads 

 of the skein and render it difficult to find it. 



WASTE AND REFUSE SILK. 



l 



Though the culture of silk is among the most prof- 

 itable branches of rural industry ; yet prudence and 

 economy must be observed, or the nett profits of a co- 

 coonery will be materially diminished. The reeler 

 should therefore take care that nothing, even of small 

 value, is lost. In giving directions for the saving and 

 manufacture of waste and refuse silk, we avail our- 

 selves of the knowledge and experience of Mr. D' 

 Homergue. He says : " In winding off the silk from 

 the cocoons, whether perfect or imperfect, the finest 

 and best threads are not those which are first ^pun 

 out ; on the contrary, the first threads which come off 

 the cocoon are coarse, uneven, and unfit for use in the 

 silk manufactories, either of the stuffs, twist 01 sewing 

 silk. This loose, furzy substance, which is about 

 one-tenth part of the whole silk on the cocoon, is call- 

 ed in French fleuret, and in English floss, from the 

 Latin Jlos, flower ; a name which reminds us of Incus 

 a non lucendo. As soon as the threads of silk in the 

 process of reeling come out fine and regular, this floss 

 is separated from them and put aside for use', as will 

 be presently mentioned. To it are added all the 

 threads which, either from some defect in the co- 

 coons, or from the awkwardness of the women em- 

 ployed in the different operations of reeling, winding 

 and doubling, either break off so as not to be easily 

 united to the other threads, or come out uneven, or 

 otherwise unfit for use ; these are called the waste 

 silk, and added to the floss, assume with it the same 

 name. This mass, boiled in soap and water, after- 



