280 . account of Rufsian dyes. Fune. rye 
their mechanical profefsors, in former times. It is, 
therefore, with much expectation and pleasure, that 
I look forward to the period, when the plan you have so 
well suggested, fhall engage the united efforts of men 
of science in this, and some other of the arts depending 
on chemistry, as it is only then we can hope for a 
considerable addition to our very confined knowledge 
of these subjects. In the mean time, however, the ra- 
tionale of bleaching has been so luminously treated, 
and with so much advantage to that valuable branch, 
that we may hope to see the same public spirit, and 
the same philosophical research, turned upon dying, 
which certainly offers a much richer field, and at 
least equal emolument to the nation at large. 
To return to the simpler and humbler art of co- 
Jouring stuffs in the villages of Rufsia, I observe, 
that most of the plants employed in the businefs, are 
equally natives of Scotland, a circumstance that must 
recommend it, particularly to the Bee, which led me 
to add their Englith names. 
Preparation of the yarn for receiving the dye. 
They prepare all their yarn or stuffs, by steeping 
them from four to eight days in gua/s (a sour vege- 
table liquor like that obtained in the making starch) 
the common drink of the Rafsians, and one of the 
three following sorts of mofs, vix. 
Lycopodium compianatum, which, I believe, you have 
not.—Lycopodium selago, fit club mofs.—Lycopodium 
anotinum, jointed club mofs, both natives of Scotland. 
Manner of extracting the dye, andcolouring yarn or cloth 
YELLOW. 
For dying common yellow colours, probably only 
differing in fhade, they employ one or other of the 
following plants: donis verna, anthemis tinctoria. 
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