224 AN AGCOUN T or ‘some 
ployed the vitriolic-acid in alum, &c. which made it of 
a darker colour. 
The orange colour employed by the Indians, is obtain- 
ed from the root of the Poccon, the outfide being pared 
of, and alfo from the plant called Touch-me-not. The vepe- 
table-acid, before mentioned, is likewife ufed as a fixer to 
the colour of thefe two plants. I found that by mixing 
the red colourof the Hau ta the caugh with the yellow col- 
our of the plant of which I am next to fpeak, I made an 
orange. 
The Indiansdie their bright yellow with the root of a plant 
which grows fpontancoufly in the weftern woods, and 
which might, very properly, be called radix flava Ameri- 
cana. This root is generally from one to three inches long, 
and about one half of an inch in diameter, and fends out 
a great number of {mall filaments in every direction except 
upwards: thefe filaments areas yellow as the body of the 
root itfelf. From the root there grows up a ftalk about a 
foot from the ground, and at the top is one broad leaf. A 
red berry, in fhape and fize refembling a rafpberry, but of 
a deeper red, grows on the top of the leaf: this berry is ripe 
in July. : ; : 
I made fome experiments with this root and the vege- 
table-acid, on filk, linnen, and woolen, and fucceeded. -I 
tried it again with the vitriolic-acid and, likewife fucceeded. 
I alfo tried it with the vegetable-alkali, and without any of 
thefe fubftances, and was fuccefsful in obtaining a good 
yellow in its fimple ftate. I prefented a fpecimen of this 
root to the diers, who found it to be a valuable article in 
making a yellow, and with the addition of Indigo in mak- 
ing a green. 
Their green is made by boiling various blue fubftances 
in the liquor of Swooth-Fiickery bark, which dies a yellow. 
In this manner, I have feen blue cloth, and yarn chang- 
ed 
