COTTON. 



93 



competitors with silk for some time, and as a result of their sale the 

 price of silk has been caused to fluctuate and become lower. 



In some cases the price of mercerised yarns has reached 2s. 3d. per 

 pound. It now remains to be seen whether the demand for it will 

 be kept up. This will depend upon the activity of the fancy cloth 

 trade in general. 



Tanning substances, such as sumach, divi divi, 1 and chestnut are 

 used for the purpose of mordanting. 



Fig. 66. Mercerised yarn spread out. 



Cotton fibres have some affinity for vegetable dyestuffs, such as 

 Indigo, Turmeric, Safflower, and Annatto, but little or none for coal- 

 tar dyes. 



Classification of Cottons. The types of cotton produced from 

 plants of certain districts, the varieties, length of staple, and diameter 

 of the individual fibres, and the counts the respective staples will spin, 

 these influence the prices in classification. 



The physical properties and the varieties of the various staples 

 may be laid down as follows : 



1 The seed legumes of Ccesalpinia coriacca of the order Leguminosse. 



