1404 



Canadian Forestry Journal, November, 1917 



care of the process from the humidify- 

 ing to winding the finished fibre upon 

 the cops ready for the shuttles. Male 

 operatives are, of course, necessary 

 for the heavy work, such as operating 

 the slitting machines and doing the 

 actual weaving upon the looms. 



Coloring the Designs 



The loom for weaving fibre rugs 

 must be of a special kind if the best 

 results are to be obtained. When the 

 loom is ready, and the warps prepar- 

 ed and all drawn in, the design and 

 cards are ready for attention. Here 

 is an important branch of the work 

 as in all carpet weaving. While a 

 design may be very artistic it is nec- 

 essary to color it with fine shades in 

 order to bring out all its good quali- 

 ties. Many a good design has been 

 spoiled for the want of good colors to 

 show it up to its best advantage. 

 And it is here that the adaptability 

 of paper to a wide range of colors 

 makes possible the beauty and at- 

 tractiveness of the paper-fibre rug. 

 After the suitable colors are selected, 

 the loom is ready for actual weaving. 



In the process of weaving a wide 

 range of effects is obtained, not only 

 by the use of difTerent designs and 

 colors, but by the introduction of 

 wool for the manufacture of the part 

 wool and part paper or fibre rugs 

 previously referred to. In fact, the 

 manufacturers believe that not only 

 are the wool and fibre rugs highly 

 attractive — it being possible to make 

 up elaborate designs and color com- 

 binations — but their wearing quali- 

 ties are greater in that they will not 

 show the wear nor the dirt as quickly 

 as the all-fibre rug. The wool seems 

 to brighten up the rug, leaving the 

 fibre in the ground for its support. 



The addition of the small amount of 

 wool, however, does not add to the 

 cost or price of the rug as much as 

 would be supposed, the product still 

 being very cheap compared with the 

 usual prices charged for ordinary 

 textile carpets. 



Sizing the Rug 



After the woven rugs come from 

 the loom, they are run through what 

 is known as a size box containing a 

 mixture suitable for stiffening them 

 and setting the colors more firmly. 

 Leaving the stiffening box, they go 

 over the calenders, several in num- 

 ber, which are filled with steam, and 

 these dry the rugs, making them lie 

 flat on the floor. They are now fin- 

 ished and ready for final inspection 

 before shipment. 



In order to supply the demand for 

 the paper-fibre variety of carpeting, 

 manufacturers of the product are 

 now making not only rugs in usual 

 sizes, but also hall runners and bath 

 mats, so that an entire house may be 

 furnished with suitable floor covering 

 of this kind. From bedroom to kitch- 

 en and porch there are suitable de- 

 signs and qualities, differing to suit 

 the needs of each. For example 

 there is probably no better porch 

 rug made for all-around use than a 

 rug of wool and fibre. Particularly 

 is this so because of its absolutely 

 sanitary character under any con- 

 ditions of weather or climate. It is 

 odorless, creating no smell in damp 

 weather, and it can be washed, 

 scrubbed and otherwise cleaned as 

 desired. Neither rain nor sun hurt 

 it, for in the case of rugs for porch 

 and outside use there is practically 

 nothing to fade. 



