MODERN IRISH PROCESS FOR 3000 LB. BROWN LINEN.
1. Lime: 250 lb. lime.
2. Lime boil : 14 hours, low pressure, 3 to 8 lb. ; wash 40 minutes in stocks.
3. Sour : hydrochloric acid 2a° Tw., steep 2 to 6 hours ; wash 40 rainutes in stocks, " turn hank," and wash 30 minutes in stocks.
4. Leyboils 1st. 60 lb. caustio soda (solid); 60 lb. resin ; previously boiled and dissolved together in water ; 400 galls. of water ; boil 8 to 10 hours, run off liquor, and add 2nd. 30 lb. caustic soda (solid), dissolved ; 400 galls. water, boil 6 to 7 hours. Wash 40 minutes in stocks.
5. Expose in field, 2 to 7 days, according to the weather.
G. Ohemick : cbloride of lime solution, a° Tw., steep 4 to 6 hours ; wash 40 minutes in stocks.
7. Sour : sulphuric acid 1° Tw., steep 2 to 3 hours ; wash 40 minutes in stocks.
8. Leyboil or " scald : 3rd. 15 to 25 lb. caustic soda (solid), dissolved ; 400 galls. water ; boil 4 to 5 hours. Nash 40 rainutes in stocks.
9. Expose in field, 2 to 4 days.
10. Chemick : chloride of lime solution I° Tw., steep 3 to 5 hours. Wash 40 minutes in stocks.
The goods are examined at this stage ; those which are ready are soured and washed, and those which are not perfectly white are taken to tbe next stage of the process.
11. Rub with rubbing boards and a good solution of soft-soap.
12, Expose in field, 2 to 4 days.
l3. Chemick : chloride of lime solution IP Tw., steep 2 to 4 hours. Wash 40 minutes in stocks. 14. Sour : sulphuric acid 1° Tw., steep 2 to 3 hours. Wash 40 minutes in stocks.
The above process is suitable for all those goods, e.g. lawns, shirtings, handkerchiefs, which are made of brown yarn (i. e. linen yarn which has had no previous bleaching), and which never con tain coloured yarns. It is, however, customary, as has been said, to bleach linen yarn, before it is woven, to various degrees of whiteness, which have special technical names, e. g. exposed duck, house duck, cream shade, &c. This preparatory bleach is specially advantageous for thick heavy goods, and such as have coloured borders, figures, &c., since, in this case, a milder bleach may be given, aud there is a better chance of preserving the bloom of the interwoven colours. Such aemi-bleaohed yarn is, for example, used for table linen, towelling (damasks, diapers, hucka backs), &c.
For these goods, the following process is sufficient :—