SILK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9209, 11 April 1908, Page 4

SILK.

HOW IT IS OBTAINED

Those who are accustomed to see silk in perfection, have no idea of the processes it has to go through. On the Continent, when first sent to the epinr ning-mill, the cocoons are spread over a table to be (selected. The women, sitting on long seats, pick out the best, which are of a uniform bright yellow colour ; the less beautiful cocoons, which present various imperfections, such as spots and holes made by the silkworm itself, are left aside, as well as the cocoons of a paler tint than the ayerage; thus two kinds of silk are obtained. From the bright yellow cocoons a very fine quality comes, and from the faulty ones, of course, an inferior quality. Probably many readers have in their younger days kept silkworms for amusement, and therefore know that the cocoons are washed in hot water, and are left in it for some time to get "cooked." This operation must, however^ be done in water having always the same temperature, and is of the greatest importance, because one degree more or less would influence the elasticity of the silk. In some spinning-mills special thermometers are kept in the hot water, so that a constant temperature may be maintained. After the washing and cooking, the cocoons are put in w batteuses " for "brushing." The "batteuse" is a deep iron pan, full of hot water with a lid to which is attached a kind of a brush of a round shape, so that when the lid is closed the brush Teaches the bottom of the pan in whioh the cocoons are placed. The lid is put into movement by machinery. Thus the flexible and fine points of the brush, by their revolving movement, scrape the surface of the cocoons that have become soft after the " cooking," and the silk threads stick to the brush. From time to time the workman lifts up the lid and raises the cocoons with a "skimmer," shaking and beating them about in order to detach the silk threads. When this operation is accomplished, the cocoons, with their silk threads forming a kind of skein, are placed in other basins. Italy stands first in Europe in the silk spinning manufacture; then come France, Germany, Austria and Spain. Hungary has only lately taken to the rearing of the silkworm. England cannot do it on account of her cold climate. The greatest part of the silk produced in Italv comes from the Lombard and Venetian regions; but Piedmont produces a quality of silk superior to any other.