fibrous substrate is cotton the finish of the invention comprises a tertiary amine containing polymer of formula i wherein each of r 1 r 2 and r 3 is independently an alkyl group a hydroxyalkyl group or a tertiary amine containing alkyl group r 4 is hydrogen or an alkyl group r 5 is a hydroxyl reactive functional group r 6 is an ester group an ether group an amide group or a tertiary amine containing alkyl group each of m and n is independently a positive integer of about 10 to about 1 000 000 and x is zero or one polymer i can be a copolymer of any constitution such as for example a block copolymer or a random copolymer the tertiary amine containing polymers are polymerized by free radical polymerization ionic polymerization or condensation polymerization the ratio of m to n is generally from about 1 100 to about 100 1 in one aspect the ratio is from about 1 50 to about 50 1 in another aspect the ratio is from about 1 10 to about 10 1 in one embodiment the tertiary amine containing polymer is attached onto the cellulosic fabrics through a reactive group in one aspect the reactive group is n hydroxymethyl acrylamide physical strength e g tear strength of the fibrous substrate treated with the tertiary amine containing polymer i is improved dramatically due to the absence of a resin system that includes dmdheu and catalyst u201c alkyl group u201d as used herein and in the appended claims refers to.