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An account is given of an investigation of the shrinkage on washing of knitted wool fabrics produced from chlorine-Hercosett-treated tops to which a range of additives had been applied. It is shown that the range of effects of the various additives is very wide and that about half of those tested had no effect on the shrinkage rate. Four increased the shrinkage rate by a factor of more than ten and thus would he clearly unsuitable for industrial use. Additives of all the types studied (mineral-oil-based, synthetic lubricants, and softeners) were capable of causing a marked increase in the shrinkage rate, but other additives of each general type had no significant effect, so that it was not possible to make a clear distinction on the basis of a general classification. It is suggested that one component, or group of components, in the additives had affected the Hercosett resin, but no firm conclusions could be drawn about the exact mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]