474 BRAZIL WOOD DYES 



Tho wood known in commerce as Pemambuco is most esteemed, and has the 

 greatest quantity of colouring matter. It is hard, has a yellow colour when newly 

 cut, but turns red by exposure to the air. That kind termed Lima wood is the same 

 in quality. Sapan wood grows in Japan, and in quality is next the two named above. 

 It is not plentiful, but is much valued in the dyehouso for red of a certain tint ; it 

 gives a very clear and superior colour. The quantity of ash that these two qualities 

 of wood contain is worthy of remark. Lima wood, as imported, gives the average of 

 2'7 per cent., while Sapan wood gives 1'6 per cent. ; in both, the prevailing earth is 

 lime. The quantity of moisture in the wood averages about 10 percent. ; that in the 

 ground wood in the market about 20 per cent. 



Sapan wood is yielded by Ccesalpinia Sapan, and Lima wood by C. echinata. 



Brazil wood has different shades of red and orange. Its goodness is determined 

 particularly by its density. When chewed, a saccharine taste is perceived. It may 

 be distinguished from red saunders wood by its colouring water, which the latter 

 does not. 



BRAZXXi WOOD BITES. Boiling water extracts the whole colouring matter of 

 Brazil wood, and if the ebullition be long enough continued, it assumes a fine red 

 colour. The residuum appears black. In this case an alkali may still extract much 

 colouring matter. The solution in alcohol or ammonia is still deeper than the pro- 

 ceding. 



The decoction of Brazil wood, called juice of Brazil, is observed to be less fit for 

 dyeing when recent than when old, or even fermented. By age it takes a yellowish- 

 red colour. For making this decoction, Hellot recommends the use of the hardest 

 water ; but it should be remarked that this water deepens the colour in proportion to 

 the earthy salts which it contains. After boiling this wood reduced to chips, or, what 

 is preferable, to powder, for three hours, this first decoction is poured into a cask. 

 Fresh water is poured on the wood, which is then made to boil for three hours, and 

 mixed with the former. When Brazil wood is employed in a dyeing bath, it is proper 

 to enclose it in a thin linen bag. 



Wool immersed in the juice of Brazil wood takes but a feeble tint, which is speedily 

 destroyed ; it must therefore receive some preliminary preparations. 



The wool is to be boiled in a solution of alum, to which a fourth or even less of 

 tartar is added, for a larger proportion of tartar would make the colour yellowish. 

 The wool is kept impregnated with it, for at least eight days, in a cool place. After 

 this, it is dyed with the Brazil juice with a slight boiling. But the first colouring 

 particles that are deposited aflbrd a less beautiful colour ; 'hence it is proper to pass a 

 coarser stuff previously through the bath. In this manner a lively rod is procured, 

 which resists pretty well the action of the air. 



Brazil wood is made use of for dyeing silk the colour known as false crimson, to 

 distinguish it from the crimson made by means of cochineal, which is much more 

 permanent. 



The silk should be boiled at the rate of 20 parts of soap per cent., and then alumcd. 

 The aluming need not bo so strong as for the fine crimson. The silk is refreshed at 

 the river, and passed through a bath more or less charged with Brazil juice, ac- 

 cording to the shade to be given. When water free from earthy salts is employed, 

 the colour is too red to imitate crimson ; this quality is given it by passing the 

 silk through a slight alkaline solution, or by adding a little alkali to the bath. 

 It might, indeed, be washed in a hard water till it had taken the desired shade. 

 They thus become permanent colours. But what distinguishes them from madder 

 and kermes, and approximates them to cochineal, is their re-appearing in their 

 natural colour, when they are thrown down in a state of combination with alumina, 

 or with oxide of tin. These two combinations seem to be the fittest for rendering 

 them durable. It is requisite, therefore, to enquire what circumstances are best 

 calculated to promote the formation of these combinations according to the nature of 

 the stuff. 



The astringent principle, likewise, seems to contribute to the permanence of the 

 colouring matter of Brazil wood ; but it deepens its hue, and can only be employed 

 for light shades. 



To make deeper false crimsons, a dark red juice of logwood is put into the Brazil 

 bath after the silk has been impregnated with it. A little alkali may be added, 

 according to the shade that is wanted. 



To imitate poppy or flame colour, an arnotto ground is given to the silk, deeper 

 even than when it is dyed with carthamus; it is then washed, alumed, and dyed with 

 juice of Brazil, to which a little soap water is usually added. 



Tho colouring particles of Brazil wood are easily affected and made yellow Ly the 

 action of acids. 



The colouring particles of Brazil wood are alao very sensible to the action of alkalis, 



