I04 On the "Preparation of the Hjaclnthus non/criptus. 



the bulbs, which, when fliced and dried, produced two pounds 

 of powder. Being foon afterwards in company with Mr. 

 Charles Taylor, fecretary to the Society of Arts, Jcc. I men- 

 tioned to him that I had difcoyered a root which grew in 

 great plenty in this kingdom, yielded a very flrong mucjiage, 

 and which I imagined would anfwer the purpofes of gum- 

 arabic in fopie of the manufaAories. He faid, if I pleafed, 

 he would fend fonie of it down tp Mancheftef, to be tried by 

 the calico-prjnters. 



Three or four ounces of the powder were given him, ancf 

 fent down there : he was informed, upon trial, that it an- 

 fwered the purpofes of fixing the calico-printers' colours 

 equally as well as gum-arabic; and in the fame proportion, 

 of an ounce and a half of the powder to four ounces of the 

 mordant. Mr. Taylor received the famples of the printed 

 cottons on which it had been ufed. 



On the 15th of January 1801 I furnifhed Mr. Taylor with 

 eight ounces more of the powder; but have not fince he^rd 

 the refult. 



As this root can be eafily procured, and ufed at a lefs pricp 

 than gum-arabic has been fold for feveral years paft, I think 

 it may be rendered of great utility; and the Society of Arts, 

 Sec, by patronizing it, may be the means of making it a 

 public benefit. 



Care fhould be taken, and advice given, that the woods 

 ^puld not be left dcftitule of the roots ; and it would be ad- 

 vifeable to offer premiums for cultivating the roots and ofT- 

 fets, as they are very increafing. By fuch means a conftant 

 fupply may be had, if the roots ^nfwpr the intended purpofes. 

 I do not prefume to offer any thing refpe^ling the mode in 

 which the fociety may think proper to divulge the difcovery, 

 and promote the ufe of thefe roots; but I imagine, that if 

 the roots are bruifed and ufed frefli, they would anfwer the 

 purpofe better than when dried and powdered ; and as it is 

 now a proper time of the year for taking them up, and will 

 continue to be fo for two months, I wifti that the difcovery 

 may be made known as foon as pofhble. 



I have lent you fpecimens both of the dried routs and pow- 

 der, that they may be feen at the fociety's rooms by the ca- 

 lico-printers. What I have done have been fcorched a little 

 in drying; but the colour would be much better, if proper 

 care was taken in drying them. T am, &c. 



Lime-ftiect, ThOMAS WiLLIS, 



March 17, i-iC2. 



From the trials made before the committee with this pow- 

 der uilh hci and told water, from famjdcs of the printed cot- 

 ton 



