Madder Dyeing. 139 



means of determining the dyeing power, and relative value 

 of the species of madder occurring in commerce. 



Observations on Munjeet. — This species of madder is very 

 rich in colouring matter, and the colour which it forms, 

 with common aluminous mordanted cotton, approaches 

 pure red. Hence, it is highly deserving of attention from 

 the dyer and printer. 



In commerce it occurs in two different species, 1. In 

 bundles ; and, 2. In powder. The munjeet in bundles con- 

 sists of the thick and thin stalks of the plants, intermixed 

 occasionally with small roots. The thin stalks are mostly 

 covered with epidermis, and contain in proportion little 

 colouring matter. The thick stalks, on the other hand, 

 are bare, and two or three times richer in colouring matter 

 than alizari, or Avignon madder. If 27 parts of aluminous 

 mordanted cotton be dyed with 12 parts of the munjeet 

 stalks, and a similar portion of cotton, with the same quan- 

 tity of Avignon madder, the colour of the munjeet-red is 

 twice as dark as that of the Avignon madder. The stalks 

 of the munjeet are very dry, light, and porous ; the fracture 

 exhibits a number of small tubes which are empty. If 

 then, 100 parts of munjeet stalks, cut into large pieces, are 

 digested in cold water, and the colouring matter taken up 

 by boiling with aluminous mordanted cotton, there remain 

 after the evaporation of the fluid 1\ per cent, of dry residue. 

 Alizari treated in the same manner gives a residue destitute 

 of dyeing properties, of 47| per cent. In the powdered 

 munjeet, the rich thick stalks are mixed with the poor 

 thin stalks. 



A specimen of munjeet-red which was placed, during an 

 equal time with one of Avignon madder-red, in a solution of 

 1 part chloride of lime in 3 of water, lost at least one half 

 more of its colour. The same happened to two specimens 

 which were formed with a double quantity of munjeet and 

 Avignon madder (Picard rouge palue) upon oiled aluminous 

 mordanted cotton. 



According to Schwarz (Dingler's " Pohjtechn. Journal" 

 1832, Sept. 385), the colour of munjeet-red upon oiled 

 cotton after clearing is so fleeting, that in the light it is 

 bleached in one day. This result agrees with the action 

 by chloride of lirne, which has much similarity with that 



