JAPANESE WOOD-CUTTING AND WOOD-CUT PRINTING. 229 



Red oeher, u ben-gara." 



Turmeric, "wakon-ko." 



Yellow oeher, "wo-do." 



Yellow, ci zumi," extract from a particular yellow wood. 



Blue, "ai-garai." Paper saturated with a solution of indigo. 



Blue, "ai-ro." Indigo paste. 



Of the vehicles used by the printer in the manipulation of his colors, 

 the following- is to be said : 



Glue solution. The strength of this solution differs according to the 

 different pigments, printing papers, silks, etc., to be used,' About one 

 third of an ounce of glue to about three-fourths of a pint of water is, 

 however, an approximate proportion. 



Rice paste. This is used for both of the classes of pigments described. 

 It is made by boiling rice flour with a certain quantity of water, and is 

 kept in a suitable vessel. Newly made paste is preferable; old and 

 rotten paste should not be used. The pigment to be used is put on the 

 block or plank, and some of the paste is then added, care being taken 

 to mix the two well and evenly by means of a brush. If the printing 

 brushes are not charged with this paste, the brilliancy of the colors is 

 much lessened. 



The tools of the printer. The use of these tools will be 

 understood from the examination of Plates VII (1-4), VIII (5-17), and 

 ix, in connection with the following explanations: 



1. Box, for keeping all the tools and materials required for printing. 

 The rack on top is used to hang the brushes on, andean be removed 

 and packed in the box. The paper is kept on the shelf, so as to pre- 

 vent its drying and being carried away by the draft. The colors are 

 placed into the lower compartment. The box also serves to keep the 

 dust and dirt from the paper and the colors. 



2. Hoards, for pressing wet paper. 



3. Small box, for keeping colors, color dishes, etc. This is stored in 

 the box No. 1, when not in use. 



4. Printing table, which, when not in use, serves to close the front of 

 box No. 1. 



5-7. Bruslies, for charging the cut planks with the printing colors, 

 one particular brush being used for each color. When not in use, they 

 are hung on the rack on top of box No. 1. 



8. Brush, for wetting paper. 



!K Oil of Sesamum orientale, contained in a bottle. (See No. 10.) 



10. Baren, a little shield which answers the purposes of the Euro 

 pean press. After the sheet has been laid down on the plank charged 

 with color, it is rubbed on the back with the "baren," so as to make it 

 take the impression. The face of the " baren " in contact with the paper 

 is occasionally rubbed with oil of Sesamum orientale. 



11-13. Chisels and a knife, used to correct the registering marks, if 

 that should be necessary. 



