BLEACHING «

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dida&ic, the aim being to supply short pradtical recipes to be read at the sideof the beck. We commence with a recipe for bleaching cotton stockings;—

100 dozens of stockings are boiled for five to six hours in a lye made of4 lbs. of caustic soda, after which they are to be rinsed in cold water.During this time dissolve 25 lbs. of good dry chloride of lime in warm water,and fill a barrel with it. Let the liquor settle, then transfer the clear liquid to ableaching-tub of stone or wood. The latter cemented is the best and cheapest.The liquid should mark i£° Baume; but the glass test cannot be relied uponto ascertain the required strength, as the spindle might show £ or i° Baumeof other ingredients than the combinations of chlorine, such as carbonateof lime, &c. The strength of the liquor, is, however, very easily and simplyascertained by the experienced workman. The liquor ought to smell stronglyof chlorine when held close to the nostrils; the goods should become con-siderably bleached after twenty-five minutes’ immersion ; but if they remainraw coloured more chloride of lime is required.

The boiled and rinsed stockings are now entered into the bleaching-vat andhandled for a few minutes; then allowed to remain for six or more hours,perhaps over night. If the liquid is made a little warm, say go 0 F., thestockings will bleach in two hours, and be ready to be taken out and rinsed.Then pass them into a vat filled with clean water to which 6 lbs. of sulphuricacid has been added. The strength of this sour water can be ascertained bythe taste. The stockings ought to lie in this sour for about half an hour,when they are rinsed again in fresh water. Now they are ready to be scouredin the fulling-mill with warm water and white soap, enough of the latter tomake a foam, after which they are rinsed and dried for the market.

If the stockings require blueing, then add 1 oz. of ultramarine to the soapin a tub large enough to hold about 25 dozens of stockings, or a mill full at atime. The ultramarine and soap must be stirred well; the stockings enteredto get the blue even, and then fulled for about fifteen minutes or more ; thentaken out and carefully rinsed. As the ultramarine is not a dye, but only afine powder, of course too much or uneven rinsing will injure the appearanceof the fabric.

If the goods require stiffening, add £ lb. of boiled starch to the soap whilescouring. A very fine shade of blueing, and which is fast, is produced bypassing the stockings, after they have been bleached, through a bath con-taining the solution of 1 lb. of blue vitriol and 2 ozs. of arsenic; after that,through the soap, as usual, and scoured.

Caustic soda at once makes soap of the oil or grease in the stockings duringboiling, and is therefore superior to soda-ash. It is best made by the dyerhimself as follows :—

Dissolve 25 lbs. of soda in a barrel filled with warm water, to which add5 or 6 lbs. of slaked lime. Let the whole settle, and use the clear liquor,which is a solution of caustic soda. A too large quantity of lime is immaterial,as the soda will take up only a certain quantity to make it caustic. Thesettlings may be leached for future use.

Bleaching Cotton Stockings Merino Shade.

Have the stockings all bleached as described ; then add to the soap inwhich the stockings are fulled 2 ozs. of turmeric to every mill full of hose.