Cotton: short fibers, ends appear fuzzy in thread.
Wool: short fibers, decidedly kinky and stiff.
Silk: long straight fibers with luster; if spun silk, fibers short;
thread looks more like cotton; breaks more easily than reeled silk.
Linen: strong threads; high luster; when broken ends very uneven and
straight.
3. Burning tests: a, cotton burns quickly with flame; b, wool burns
slowly, chars, gives off odor of burnt feathers; c, silk burns slowly,
leaves small crisp ash, and when weighted leaves more ash; d, linen,
similar to cotton.
4. Linen if without much starch, becomes translucent when treated with
olive oil; cotton remains opaque.