256 INDIGO, WOAD 



each bearing six spokes terminating in large fiat blades, churn 

 up the liquid for two or three hours, during which time its 

 colour changes from green to dark blue. 



The indigo in the water is now left to settle, after which 

 the clear water is drawn off, and the colouring matter is taken 

 to the boiling tank, where it is generally boiled for about 

 a quarter of an hour, after which it is allowed to settle 

 again; the clear water is once more drawn off and the 

 remaining indigo -saturated liquid is strained, and filtered, 

 and at last the pulpy mass of colouring matter is ready for 

 pressing. 



After this operation it is cut into cubes of about three inches 

 deep ; these little cubes are laid out on shelves in the drying- 

 room ; and after they have dried there for two or three 

 months they are ready for market. 



1 Fowre things are required in Nil : 1 a pure graine, a violet 

 colour, his glosse in the Sun, and that it be dry and light, so 

 that swimming in water, or burning in the fire, is cast forth 

 a pure light- violet vapour.' 2 



Woad (I satis tinctoria). This plant, a biennial which grows 

 about three feet high, was formerly extensively cultivated 

 on account of the blue dye obtained from its leaves. It 

 is the vitrum, mentioned by Caesar, with which the ancient 

 Britons stained their bodies. Its flowers are yellow, and it 

 forms curious large brown seed-pods, each about two inches 

 wide and half an inch long. 



Sir Arthur Young, in his Agricultural Survey of Lincolnshire 

 (1799), gives a minute account of the preparation of the dye 

 from the plant. The leaves were ground in a mill, and 

 subsequently formed into balls, which were dried in the sun ; 

 inside they were of a violet colour. 



For many years after woad ceased to be used as a dye by 

 itself, it was used in combination with indigo, the colour 



1 From the Sanskrit nila, blue ; whence the Arabic al-nil or an-nil, the 

 indigo plant, and the Spanish anil. 



2 * Observations of William Finch, Merchant, taken out of his large 

 Journall, 1607 ' (PurcJias his Pilgrimes). 



