32 Otf THE KNOWLEDGE 



Q. How is soft wool known from harsh ? 



A. It is sufficient, to feel of a lock of wool to dis- 

 cover, if it is soft and mellow, or harsh and dry, 

 to the touch : or by drawing it between two of the 

 fingers, and lightly rubbing its filaments, it will be 

 known, if it is soft or harsh. 



Q. How is it known, whether wool is strong or 

 weak? 



A. Take some filaments of wool and stretch them, 

 drawing them by the two ends, with both hands : if 

 they break easily, it is a proof, that the wool is weak, 

 and the more they resist, the stronger is the wool. 



Q. How is it known, whether the wool be elastic, 

 nervous, or smooth ? 



A. Take a handful of wool and squeeze it : if, on 

 opening the hand, it swells as much as it did before 

 compressing it, it is nervy ; on the contrary, if the 

 wool is weak, it remains pressed down, or swells only 

 a little. 



Q. What are the good or bad qualities of wool ? 



A. That wool, which is white, fine, soft, strong, 

 and elastic, is the best ; that, which has a bad colour, 

 and is coarse, harsh, and weak, is of an inferior 

 quality ; but that which is mixed with a great quan- 

 tity of hair (jarre) is the worst. 



Q. What is this jarre or hair? 



A. It is a fur or hair mixed with the wool, which 

 is very different from it ; it is stiff and shining ; it has 

 not the softness of wool, and does not take the dye, 

 when manufactured. Wool of this sort is used only 

 for coarse goods : the more it has of this jarre, the 



