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TEXTILE FIBRES. 



Cotton fibres in a raw state are reputed to possess from 300 to 500 

 twists per inch. The accuracy of these numbers may be open to question ; 

 nevertheless, the spiral twists are numerous. These spiral twists are the 

 important characteristics of cotton fibres, as they cause them to cohere 

 together, and so render them capable of being doubled, drawn out, and 

 doubled repeatedly, and ultimately of being twisted up collectively into' 

 the spiral strand that is known in the trade as Yarn. 



Yarns having distinct characters and names may be regarded as species ; 

 while those which differ from a given count, or which are spun for a 



Fig. 82. Spinning-room and self-acting mule. 



particular kind of cloth for which there is only a temporary demand, may 

 be ranked as varieties. The principal species of yarns are crotchet, lace, 

 water twist, hosiery, bump, mercerised, hard and soft twists, crape yarn, 

 spotted twist, knickerbocker, wig, water twist, and merino yarns, samples 

 of which, in the form of cops, are always on sale by the " yarn agents " 

 on the Manchester Exchange. 



Cotton Dyeing. Cotton is sometimes dyed in the raw state for the 

 use of the spinner who makes a speciality of spinning dyed yarns. 

 This applies mostly to weft. Sometimes a good black weft is a desideratum 

 by the manufacturer who does not want the yarn dyed in the cop. In 

 the latter case a variation of colour may occur in some parts of the cop, 



