FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 77 



Another way to avoid the effects of droughts is, to culti- 

 vate swamp-lands more extensively, in raising such pro- 

 ductions as are most liable to receive injury in this way. 

 Such lands, when well drained, and duly mixed with proper 

 earths, or other manures, may undoubtedly be rendered 

 excelent for almost every Summer-crop which is liable to 

 be injured by too much dry weather. Wet lands also, 

 which have been hollow-drained, will stand a drought 

 much better than in their original wet state. 

 See HOLLOW DRAINS. 



In pastures, planting some kinds of trees, in different 

 parts, is beneficial in preventing the effects of drought ; and 

 the best for this is the locust ; as it will increase the pas- 

 ture, serve for shade, and eventually yield much valuable 

 timber and fuel. 

 See LOCUST. 



DUNG, DUNGHILLS, &c. See MANURES. 



DYING OF CLOTHS, Sec. As the Domestic Manufac- 

 ture of cloths, and particularly of woolen, is important to 

 the welfare and Independence of the Farmers and Planters 

 of our Country, we have thought proper to devote a page 

 or two of this Work, in directions for dying some of those 

 colors which are seldom or never out of fashion ; such as 

 the black, the grays, the blues, and the greens, of different 

 shades, together with some easy methods of producing a 

 variety of other colors. 



The essential point, in coloring, is a knowledge of the 

 means of seting the colors so permanently, that they will 

 never fade. In cottons, this is often a matter of difficulty : 

 In woolens it is less so. The liquid, or substance used to 

 set colors, is called the mordant. The proper mordant for 

 blues, and for scarlet, or red of various hues, is the solution 

 of tiri) and is prepared as follows : 



Take two parts of spirit of nitre, one of fuming spirit 

 of salt, and in this liquor dissolve one-twentieth part of its 

 quantity of the purest tin that can be had, or more if the 

 liquor will dissolve more. The tin is to be granulated, and 

 put in by degrees, as the liquor dissolves it. To use this 

 mordant, dilute it in two or three parts of clear stream- 

 water, according to its strength, until it has the acidity of 

 vinegar, or lemon-juice. 



The mordant is to be used in two ways. Where it gives 

 no color of itself, the cloth or yarn may be first put into the 

 mordant a suitable length of time, and then put into the 

 dye ; or a suitable proportion of the mordant may be mixed 

 with the dye : But, where the former gives a color of 

 itself, the cloth or yarn should first be put into it, and then 



