012 DR. CHASE'S RECIPES. 



dip the rags in the lye, then hang them in the sun and let dry, then dip in the 

 copperas water and let dry, then in the lye, drying each time after dipping 

 until you have the desired color." 



Remarks. — I notice that some others use as much as 1 lb. to a pail of water, 

 and do not dry the rags between the dippings, but drain well, choosing a sunny 

 day to do it out of doors. Certainly the stronger the dye the deeper' will be 

 the color, and the less times of dipping would be necessary. None of them 

 gpeak of putting water into the lye, perhaps the strength as run off from the 

 ashes is intended, but it looks to me to be rather strong, if the ashes are from 

 good hard wood. If more than one pail of copperas water is needed keep the 

 came proportions. I should say 1 lb. to each pail needed. Dissolve in an iron 

 kettle, as copperas is the sulphate of iron. One lady speaks of a strong lye, 

 and she also used 1 lb. to a pail of water. 



Drab, with Tea, Pretty and Cheap, for Rags, Alpaca Dresses, 

 etc. For Five Pounds of Goods.— The same Perseverance Ann, of 

 Pleasant Lake, Ind., that gave the blue above, comec in with a drab. These 

 persevering old maids are the ones to have around the home; they do things 

 well and keep all in order. She says : "To the old lady who wanted my 

 lecipe for coloring drab, I send the following : To 5 lbs. of goods take ^ 

 of a pound of the cheapest green tea, and 2 table-spoonfuls of copperas. Tie 

 the tea in a cloth and steep in a brass kettle, then add the copperas and skim 

 thoroughly. Put in the goods, and stir and air till colored enough, which will 

 be in a few minutes. If this is not dark enough take out the goods and add 

 more dye-stuff (tea). This is very cheap and pretty for carpet rags and a weak 

 dye will restore a faded drab alpaca to your complete satisfaction." 



Drab, with Nut Galls, for Bags or Yarn.— To make a very pretty 

 iight drab for a carpet, take 1 pound of nut galls, and after breaking them up, 

 put in an iron kettle with a sufficient quantity of water to dip 16 lbs. of rags or 

 yarn. Boil 1 hour, then add 1 ounce of blue vitriol. When this is thoroughly 

 dissolved, put in the yarn or whatever material you desire to color, and let it 

 simmer for 1 hour. If not as dark as reqidred add a small quantity of extract 

 of logwood and dip again. — Mrs. Eden Wood. 



Drab, with Sumach for Rags or Yarn. Lovely and Dark.— 

 Another writer, name nor place given, says : "I like drab in a carpet so well, 

 and I heard the other day that sumach bobs make a lovely dark drab, just boil 

 them up and put in the rags, it needs no setting or preparation whatever; our 

 neighbor girls had splendid luck in this way, and it is so easy. " 



. Remarks. — The only inconsistency I can see here is that no mordant to set 

 the color is directed. I think without copperas or vitriol, as in the next ones 

 above, it would soon fade. I leave that part to those, however, who have more 

 experience in coloring than the doctor has, but merely suggest its necessity 

 from the nature or things. 



Seal Brown, for 10 Pounds of Goods.— For 10 lbs. of goods, take 

 3 lbs. of catechu, and put it in about as much water as you need to cover the 

 goods welL Boil it until dissolved, then add 4 ozs. of blue vitriol, and stir until 



