THE STORY OF ARTIFICIAL SILK i ——- that we can find for these spindle-shaped wood cells. There are four different processes at present in the making of Artificial Silk :— (x) Viscose. (2) Cuprammonium. (3) Nitrocellulose. (4) Cellulose-Acetate. The first is the most universal process, but the last—acetate, is now being rapidly developed. Acetate silks are finer and better for hard wear. They stand washing better. They can be boiled in all kinds of detergent liquors. When wetted, they lose only half their strength, and are as strong as ever when dry. They are the closest imitation of real silk. They are superior in lustre, softness, warmth of handle and non-creasability. They are best for fabrics of the crepe-de-chine type. They burn like real silk, leaving a cinder, while viscose silks burn like cotton, leaving only a fine white ash. The moisture in acetate silks ranges from Hho