31 JULY 1926, Page 15

MERCER AND MERCERIZATION [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Sne,—In reply to the letter regarding mercerization in your issue of July 17th, I would point out that what is to-day known as mercerization is a misnomer—it should have been called " lustering." What Mercer discovered was thickening and strengthening and increasing the affinity for dyes, and if you put this product against the lustered product of to-day, unfortunately known as mercerized, the difference is as great as between black and white. The lustered product was dis- covered by Lowe and not by Mercer.—I am, Sir, &c., Manor House, Knaresbro'

H. E. AYKROYD.