BLEACHING COTTON. 12* 



cable to cottons in the piece. This method is called, for what Salzburgh me- 

 reafon I know not, the Salzburgh method, though it is chiefly *° d J t f to b n ' each " 

 praftifed at Reginfburgh, where four families have long kept thread, &c. 

 it a fecret, which has not till the preient occafion been divulged. 

 This warning renders the cotton more flexible; the goods made 

 from it are of a clofer and more even texture; the cotton does 

 not require any fubfequent bleaching, and when it comes af- 

 terwards to be dyed, it takes a finer, more permanent and more 

 uniform colour. The operation is performed withfoap, water 

 and ftrong leys, in the following manner: 



The articles to be waihed, which ufually confift of thread, 

 ftockings, night caps, and handkerchiefs, are evenly difpofed 

 in a large veflel or tub. The bottom of this veflel is firft co- 

 vered with a coarfe linen cloth, upon which are laid firft' the 

 handkerchiefs, afterwards the ftockings and night-caps, and 

 laftly the thread. The whole is then covered with a fecond 

 coarfe cloth of a clofe texture, and very clean, which defends 

 the mafs from the contact of the air. The veflel itfelf refembles 

 thofe ufed for lixiviation in the foap work of Konfholm. A 

 boiler having its diameter at the top \~ Swedifh ell (forty 

 inches) and at the bottom 1| ell (34 inches) and its depth one 

 ell (27 inches) is filled with water to which a fuflicient quan- 

 tity of cauftic leys of potafh is added to make the fluid produce 

 a greafy feel between the fingers, and afterwards 2lbs. of 

 diced foap of Rigentburg, This liquid is made to boil and 

 poured upon the cotton; a (hort time after which it is drawn 

 off, to be again heated, during which interval a hot folution 

 of foap is continually poured upon the cotton. Thefe oper- 

 ations are repeated for four or fix hours, or until the coiton is 

 well foaked, and very hot. It is then left tofteepfor twenty- 

 four hours in foap-water. This procefs is ufually performed 

 between midnight and fix in the morning; and the next morn- 

 ing the fluid is drawn off, the cotton well waflied and the 

 water prefled out by a fcrew-prefs. This conftitutes the firft 

 wafhing. 



After the coiton has been well cleanfed in this manner, the 

 principal wafhing is effected as follows: 



The waihed cotton is difpofed in the veflel as before, with 

 this difference only, that the mafs is enveloped in cotton cloth 

 inftead of linen, which islefs capable of refitting the action of 

 the cauftic leys. A clear and colourlefs ley is prepared with 



two 



