88 



X. Aerate filieres in brass frame, through which the 

 filaments pass onwards to the reel forming the thread. 



Y. Tray, cup, and pipe in corner of tray to pour off 

 superfluous liquid from any cocoon that requires special 

 attention. 



Mode of using the Machinery. 



The first operation after purchasing the cocoons is to 

 suffocate them, that is to say, to kill (" etoufnr ") the chrysalis 

 in the cocoon. 



For this operation there are two systems in vogue ; the 

 one called " steam killing," the other the " dry killing." As 

 to which of these systems is the better depends on the 

 opinion of the throwster (" filateur "), some preferring the 

 first named, others the second. The apparatus for steam 

 killing consists of a chamber, larger or smaller, into which 

 is introduced a steam jet. The cocoons are spread over 

 trays called cavagues, three or four minutes being sufficient 

 to kill them, the temperature being 70° to 75° (158° to 

 167° Fahrenheit). 



The cocoons having undergone this operation are damp ; 

 they are then spread upon the tables, care being taken to 

 move them about from time to time, so that they may dry 

 evenly. Two months are required for the complete drying. 

 As we shall see, the dry operation has not this incon- 

 venience, for the cocoons coming out of it are completely 

 dry and ready to pack. The dry apparatus consists of 

 one large chamber, into which tables with or without 

 wheels (' c wagons "), whereon are placed the " caragues " 

 filled with cocoons, are pushed. Two furnaces introduce 

 the hot air which raises the temperature to 70 to 75 

 degrees. This is hot enough to kill the cocoons in 5 to G 

 hours (they may be left in 20 to 22 hours, and then 

 withdrawn perfectly dry). Cocoons having undergone the 

 killing operation are submitted to a further process before 

 being put into winding. This is called the " cocoon 

 sorting/' This process is simply, 1st, picking out the dead, 

 the stained, and the double cocoons ; 2nd, sorting out 

 the different shades so that the silk may not be streaky ; 

 3rd, sorting the coarser from the fine. 



This is a very important operation, being of great assis- 

 tance to every spinner or winder. As is well known, there 

 is infinite variety in the degrees of coarseness or fineness of 

 the ends, and if not carefully sorted there would be great 

 irregularity in the size. In addition to this, cocoons with 



