By Jean Henri Fabre, Florence Constable Bicknell

Interesting conversations with Uncle Paul display the mysteries in the back of the dyeing and weaving of fabric, the lighting fixtures and heating of houses, the processing concerned with bringing oil, espresso, tea, spices, and different foodstuffs to the desk, and the facility of water in all its manifestations. first-class as follow-on to the tale booklet of Science. quite a few black and white illustrations supplement the textual content. compatible for a long time eleven and up.

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The surface must be made as smooth and uniform as possible, the fluff flattened and held down the whole length of the thread. This is done by means of a preparation or facing with which the threads of both the woof and the warp are coated. In this preparation are glue, which holds down the fluff, and oil, which makes the surface slippery. "Thus it is that, as it comes from the loom, cloth is badly soiled, carrying as it does a coating of glue and ill-smelling oil. Before these impurities become seats of decay the cloth must be cleaned, and it must be done as soon as possible.

In color it is of a uniform pale red. "The moth most to be feared is the one that feeds on woolen cloth. Let us discuss its habits more in detail, for in spite of its ravages you will admire, with me, the skill it displays in making itself a coat. To protect itself so that it may live in peace, the grub fashions for itself a sheath from the bits of wool cut and chopped with its sharp little teeth. In thus cutting down these upstanding hairs, one by one, the worm shears the cloth and makes a threadbare spot.

But if there is one animal that, more than another, comes to us from the good God above, it is surely the sheep, the gentle creature that yields us its fleece for our garments, its skin for our warm coats, its flesh and its milk for our nourishment. But its most precious gift is its wool. "From wool are made mattresses, and it is also woven into cloth such as merino, flannel, serge, cashmere, and in short, all the various fabrics best fitted for protecting us from the cold. It is by far the most desirable material for wearing apparel, cotton, notwithstanding its importance, coming only second, and silk, valuable though it is, being very inferior in respect to serviceability.

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