fei 



i)ire(5tions for 

 the bleaching. 



The cottony 

 mjtcer is obtain, 

 ed equally good 

 from fine flax o 

 coArfe hemp. 



Pi-obable a(lv;>n 

 tages to be ob- 

 tained by the 

 procefe. 



HEMP MADE TO RESEMBLE COTTON. 



preparation ; and I am of opinion one certain method of ac->' 

 coraplifliing it, is not to complete the bleaching, but to flop 

 at the third operation. If four are required for the thorough 

 bleaching, it muft then be finifhed in the thread or in the 

 «uff. 



In the operation of bleaching, too flrong lyes miift be avoid- 

 ed, but thej niuft be made ufe of in boiling. We are con- 

 vinced that all the means which diminifli the odour of the 

 oxigenated muriatic acid weaken its aflion ; hence it muft be 

 employed in a ftate of parity, and we muft not attempt to 

 preferve ourfelves from its odour, but by the conftruction of 

 the apparatus and the mode of application, obj'edls which ufe 

 iiais rendered eafy : it ffiuft even be ufed in its concentrated 

 liate, btherwile the operations require to be much increafed. 



The procefs was finilhed by immerfion in water charged 

 with foap, which was not preffed out, in order that the fila- 

 ments might not adhere too much by drying, but yield eafily 

 the feparation which is to be performed by the card. But 

 there is 9. probability that by preventing too much drying, 

 the inconvenience experienced in the firft trials vvould not 

 take place, and that this iuimeriron might then be omitted. 



It is remarkable that whether the fineft flax or the coarfeft 

 hemp is made ufe of, the filaments obtained are of eq^ual fine- 

 nefs and colour. 



This indication will be guide enough to artifis, well ac- 

 quainted with chemical manipulations, in the operation of 

 bleaching. But I have nothing to fay on the mechanical dff- 

 pofilions of carding and fpinning, becaufe they were not exe- 

 cuted by me. 



If I am not deceived^ this application of a procefs already 

 old, offers many advantages, becaufe it may change the fa- 

 brication of thread, which, to this clay, requires the fpinning-'^ 

 wheel into that much lefs expenfive, which is executed by 

 means of machinery ; and it may convert a rough produft of 

 our agriculture, and even fome of the refufe, fuch as that 

 from rope-walks, into a f ubfiance valuable in the arts. This' 

 motive has induced me to infert this notice in the Journal of 

 an efiablifliment devoted to public utility, although it offers' 

 nothing neW as a fcientilic fubj-edt. 



XII. Experimental 



