SUBSTITUTE FOR GUM-ARABIC. . 31 



In the year, 1794, whilft colleaing plants in a wood for DIfcoveryof this 

 botanical fpecimens, I obferved that the root of the hyacinthus ^^^hor^^n 1794 

 non fcriptus, the plant commonly called blue-bells, or hare- 

 bells, was extremely mucilaginous ; and on tafting it, I dif- 

 covered only a very flight pungency. I colle6ted a pound of 

 the bulbs, and, after flicing and drying them before a fire, 

 they yielded about four ounces of powder. I thought that 

 by keeping the powder fome lime, the little acridnefs might 

 gb off, as it does in the arum-root powder. I tailed it about 

 fix months after, and found it perfedly infipid. I concluded 

 it might be rendered ufeful for food or nouriftiment, but at 

 that time purfued the matter no further. 



In the fprin? of 1800, gum-arabic havincr been a long time PropofalmiSo© 

 , fr, , . .• r T.u 1.4K- -1 • to ufe it inftead 



very dear, and likely to continue lo, I thought this mucilagi- q/- g^jj^^a^abic. 



nous root might anfwer fome of its purpofes, for external ufe. 

 I therefore procured feven pounds and a half of the bulbs, 

 which, when diced and dried, produced two pounds of pow- 

 der. Being foon afterwards in company with Mr. Charles 

 Taylor, Secretary to the Society of Arts, &:c. I mentioned 

 to him that I had difcovered a root which grew in great plenty • - 



in this kingdom, yielded a very ftrong mucilage, and which 

 I imagined would anfwer the purpofe of gum-arabic, in fome 

 of the manufactories. He faid, if I pleafed, he would fend 

 fome of it down to Manchefter, to be tried by the calico- 

 printers. 



Three or four ounces of the powder were given him, and Trial at Man- 

 fent down there : he was informed, upon trial, that it an- ^^^j^^ ^^ ""* ^'' 

 fwered the purpofes of fixing the calico-printers colours, 

 equally as well as gum-arabic ; and in the fame proportion, 

 of an ounce and a half of the powder, to four ounces of the 

 mordant. Mr. Taylor received the famples of the printed 

 cottons on which it had been ufed. 



On the 15th of January, 1801, I furnilhed Mr. Taylor 

 with eight ounces more of the powder ; but have not lince 

 heard the refult. 



As this root can be eafily procured, and ufed at a lefs price The root la 

 than gum-arabic has been ibid for feveral years paft, I think *^^^^P* 

 it may be rendered of great utility ; and the Society of Arts, 

 &c. by patronizing it, may be the means of making it a public 

 benefit. 



Care 



