[ 175 ] 190 



the bottom of the vat; boil the potash a quarter of an hour, in a kettit; 

 containing nearly the two-thirds oi what it wiil hold; then leave it to 

 settle, and put out the fire. 



Two or three days previously, eight pounds of indigo should have 

 been set to steep in about one bucket of hot water; in this, it is to be 

 carefully washed, changing the w,iter, which assumes a reddish color. 



Some diers begin by boiling indigo in a ley made of one pound of 

 potash, and two bu.-'^iets of water: after which, it is to be pounded, wet 

 as it is, ill a mortar; when it begins to form a paste, £ori)e of the liquid 

 just boiled is to be poured quite hot over it, till the mortar be full, and 

 then rubbed for a certain time; the liquid is left to settle for some mo- 

 ments, and the clear part taken off and set apart in a kettle, or put into 

 the vat; then pour an equal quantity of the boiled liquid over the indigo, 

 remaining in the mortar, which is to be rubbed again, and the clear 

 part taken off, and put into the kettle, as at first. Repeat this opera- 

 tion till the whole of the indigo be used, with the greatest part of the 

 liquor of the bath. It is then to be poured by kettles-full over the bran 

 in the bottom of the vat: then pour over it the rest of the brevet or re- 

 freshing liquor, with its sediment or grounds. The whole is then stir- 

 red or mixed with a stick, or wooden hoe, and left without fire, till the 

 degree of its heat moderates, so as that we can bear the hand in the 

 bath; then a little fire is to be set round the vat to keep up the same 

 degree of warmth; it must continue thus till it be perceived that the li- 

 quor begins to turn green, which may be discovered by the help of a 

 bit of white silk dipped in it. 



When it is in a state indicating that the process goes on well, give it 

 a stirring with a stick, or hoe, in order to forward it, and to see if it in- 

 cline to be mature; then let it settle till a scum, or brown and coppery 

 pellicle is seen rising to the surfoce, which shows that the bath is ready. 



In order to be sure that it is ripe, observe if it be well crusted, and if, 

 on blowing upon it, there be instantly a cream or scrum re-produced, 

 instead of that which has been just set aside, it is then left to repose 

 for three or four hours; after which make a new liquor: for this purpose 

 the necessary quantity ot water is to be put into a kettle, and boil in it 

 two pounds of potash and four ounces of madder, as was done the 

 first time; this new liquor is to be stirred up, then left to settle during 

 four hours, at which time the tub is in a condition for dying. 



Silk diers commonly have no other bath than that which has been 

 just described; however, they might employ another for the green 

 colors. This liquor is made like the preceding one, excepting that 

 a half pound of madder is to be used for every pound of potash. This 

 die is much greener than the former, and the color it gives is more 

 lasting on silk, with a lustre equal to that given by the usual die. 

 When the liquor of this vat has exhausted its coloring property, it 

 becomes ruddy, like beer; whereas the liquor of the former becomes 

 blackish. 



The vat for the above quantity of indigo must be five feet deep, from 

 two to two and a half diameter at the mouth, and from one to one 

 foot and a half at the base, so as to rnsemble an inverted sugar loaf- 



