86 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



It is everywhere called " T'ang," and generally supposed to 

 commemorate the T'ang Dynasty (a.d. 684-907), one of the 

 most famous in Chinese history. Sugar, however, was known 

 to the Chinese at least as early as the second century B.C., 

 and is mentioned in a poem which was written sometime 

 between a.d. 78 and 139. 



Formerly the Chinese used only vegetable dyes for their 

 silk and other fabrics, and it is much to be regretted that in 

 China, as elsewhere in the world, these are being rapidly dis- 

 placed by aniline dyes derived from coal-tar. The latter are 

 more convenient to handle, but unfortunately the colours are 

 not " fast." The coal-tar product is on sale in every town 

 and market village in Western China, made up in small bottles 

 and imported from Germany. 



The only dye-plant at all extensively grown in Szechuan 

 to-day is Strohilanthes flaccidifolius , " T'ien-hwa," which 

 produces an " indigo." In certain parts of the Chengtu 

 Plain this is grown in quantity, and the same is true of the 

 district of Mien Chou and elsewhere, but its cultivation is on 

 the decline. It is planted on ridges which are kept flooded 

 between. When the plants are about 3 feet tall they are cut 

 down and the leafy shoots placed in concrete pits full of cold 

 water. After steeping for about five days the stems are 

 removed, leaving a green-coloured water. Slaked lime is 

 placed in the water to precipitate the indigo. The water is 

 allowed to drain off, and the dye is found deposited at the 

 bottom of the pit. 



Around Shasi, in Hupeh, Polygonum tinctorium is cultivated 

 as the source of an " indigo " which is there used for dyeing 

 cotton cloth. 



As a red dye Saffiower [Carthamus tinctorius), " Hung-hwa," 

 was formerly very extensively grown, but it is only occasionally 

 met with to-day, though still esteemed for dyeing the more 

 costly silk fabrics. The flowers of the Balsam [Impatiens 

 Balsamina), colloquially " Chih-chia-ts'ao," are similarly used 

 and valued. 



Yellow dyes are obtained from turmeric, the root of Cur- 

 cuma longa, still extensively grown in Chienwei Hsien on the 

 Lower Min River, and from the flowers of the Huai shu {Sophora 



