t
succeeding processes. The fleece of cotton is stripped from the doffer
by the "Doffer Comb," which is a thin bar of steel, having a serrated
under edge, and making about 1600 beats or strokes per minute. From this
point cotton is collected into the form of a loose rope or "sliver," and
passed first through a trumpet-shaped mouth, and then through a pair of
calender rollers about six inches wide and four inches in diameter.

Image: FIG. 16.--Lap, web, and sliver of cotton.

Finally, the sliver of cotton is carried upward, as shown in the
illustration (Fig. 15), and passed through special apparatus and
deposited into the can, also shown. This latter is about 10 inches in
diameter and 36 inches in length, and the whole arrangement for
depositing the cotton suitably into the can is denominated the "Coiler."
In the next illustration (Fig. 16) are shown three forms in which the
cotton is found before and after working by the Carding Engine. That to
the left is the lap as it enters, the middle figure is part of the web
as it comes from the doffer, and that to the right is part of a coil of
cotton from the can.

Such is a brief description of the most important of the preparatory
processes of cotton spinning. There are innumerable details involving
technical knowledge which fall outside the province of this story.

=Drawing Frames.=--It is a very common thing for a new beginner in the
study of cotton spinning to ask--what is the use of the drawing frame?
As a matter of fact, the unpractised eye cannot see any difference
between the sliver or soft rope of cotton as it reaches, the drawing
frame and as it leaves the frame.

The experienced eye of the practical man can, however, detect a
wonderful difference.

It has been shown that the immediately preceding operation of
carding--amongst other things--reduces the heavy lap into a
comparatively thin light sliver; thus advancing with one great stride a
long way toward the production of the long fine thread of yarn ready for
the market.

No such difference can be perceived in the sliver at the drawing frame.
This machine is practically devoted to improving the thread finally
made in two distinct and important ways.

1. The fibres of cotton in the sliver, as they leave the Carding Engine,
are in a very crossed and entangled condition, not at all suited to the
production of a strong yarn by the usual processes of cotton spinning.
The first duty of the drawing frame may be