Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1919 — Tests for Clothing Material [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tests for Clothing Material

By th* U. fll DipaMMSt ol Agricuhw*

When buying staple clothing materials, If you are not a good judge of quality, it is an excellent idea to look at several pieces of the same type of material but with different prices and compare the weight, color, and firmness of weave. Such a comparison will often emphasise the fact that the most expensive piece is not necessarily the best quality. It may be the season s most fashionable color and weight, and its high price probably te due to slight variations In the finishing and the fleetng popularity of the style. There has been a tendency to abuse the practice of asking for samples from dress goods departments, but at times a sample is quite justifiable, as it will give the opportunity for home teats. Cotton and linen are affected by acids and very slightly affected by alktlles, while the reverse is true of wool.

The alkalies found in the home are washing sodas and the washing powders. The office of home economics of the United States department of agriculture suggests using the following simple test to determine the amount of cotton In. a mixed fabric: I Add four tablospoonfuls of washing soda, or five tablespoonfuls of washing powder, to a pint of soft water. The washing soda should be rolled to a powder before measuring. Bring to boiling and add sample, which should be about one and one-half inches square. Boil carefully, to avoid spattering, for 20 minutes, adding water at Intervals to replace that lost by evaporation. Transfer sample to cold water and rub between the fingers. The wool, which is gelatinized by the boiling, will disappear on rubbing and the cotton threads will be left unchanged.

TESTING SILK BY BURNING. Silk on right, heavily loaded with mineral matter, keeps its shape after burning, while the ash of pure silk, on left, crumbles.