FIRST PROCESS OF DYEING. 89 



will have gained the colour-base or mordant. 

 Eemove the liquor from the feathers, and put to 

 them instead a smaller quantity of soft water ; and 

 when it is of a simmering heat, add a small 

 quantity of powdered Aleppo galls. 



The requisite shades of dun colour may be 

 obtained by varying the quantities of the iron 

 and galls. For a full dark dun, add sufficient 

 quantities of the sulphate and galls. By increas- 

 ing or diminishing the proportions of either of 

 these articles, you will obtain duns of divers 

 shades. If logwood be used instead of galls, a 

 different tint will be the result. Madder, cam- 

 wood, the bark of the alder-tree, walnut -peels, 

 produce different hues. Grails, logwood, and 

 madder should, however, be omitted when the 

 colouring is intended to approach a red or brown. 

 >The light shades in all cases should be first 

 gained, and any other deeper hue added after- 

 wards. Hard water should not be used in dyeing. 

 Having given to the feathers their mordant or 

 base, as already directed, add either sulphate of 

 iron, sulphate of alum, acetate of alum, or acetate 

 of copper, according to the intended shade. Wash 

 the feathers from the mordant, and put them into 

 a strong decoction of that plant which the dyers 

 call weld. Simmer them in this a few minutes, 

 strengthening or weakening the weld-decoction in 

 proportion as the colour is to be more or less 



