FIG. 66.--Silk reeling. The cocoons are in the basins before the women.] =Can you send for some cocoons and raw silk?= Your teacher will tell you where to write. Raw silk, as it is wound from cocoons, is made up into hanks like the worsted which you buy at the store. It is sold in hanks by the pound and costs from $7.00 to $10.00 a pound. It takes three thousand silkworms to spin a pound of raw silk. Do you know that for grandmother's dress about two pounds of raw silk were necessary? Can you tell how many worms were kept busy? In another lesson we shall learn how the manufacturer of silk ribbons or silk material takes the raw silk and makes it into beautiful fabrics. Now we know about a useful little animal as well as about a plant which gives us clothing. Silk, however, is more expensive than cotton. Cotton is sometimes made to look like silk. The cotton fiber is mercerized, which means soaked in certain chemicals and stretched to make it look silky. Lisle thread looks somewhat like silk. It is cotton twisted hard to give it a luster. Another day we shall learn more about these. EXERCISES AND PROBLEMS 1. Do you know where silk is grown? Write a story of 100 words telling about it. 2. Why is not more silk grown in the United States? 3. Find on your map of the world the principal countries where silk is grown. 4. Name some articles made of silk which you use every day; which you see used. 5. What are some of the other uses which we have for silk? LESSON 2 SIMPLE ARTICLES EASILY MADE FROM SILK SCRAPS There are so many things which can be made from silks. Suppose you start with something easy. Miss James had some good suggestions. The little pin-case or the sewing-case are both useful (Figs. 68 and 69). You know the overhanding stitch; so you can make them quickly. Several of the Pleasant Valley girls will make them for Christmas gifts as well as for the fair. Which will you make? Here are the directions for making both the pin-case and the sewing-case. They are not difficult if the directions are followed carefully.