i82 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



(2) When exposed to the air in flat vessels a tough skin is formed 

 over it, almost insoluble in water and alcohol. 



(3) The first skin being taken off, a new one comes, but much 

 more slowly and weaker, and so on. 



(4) Of the substances in suspension, the coarser portion sinks 

 to the bottom, the rest remains diffused in the solution. They 

 appear to be, therefore, a sort of Gummi resinae ; and to this are 

 attributable the formation of a skin and the dark brown colour 

 which articles treated with Shibu always take on, and which seems 

 to come from the oxidation of the gum. The disagreeable odour 

 of Shibu probably proceeds, on the other hand, from butyric acid. 



In conclusion we will add to the foregoing remarks on Japanese 

 dye-stuffs a few words on the application of the Safflower, and on 

 certain additional contrivances used in dyeing. 



Of the two colours which the petals of safflower blossoms con- 

 tain when dried and pressed into little cakes, the yellow is not 

 used, but the red is highly prized on account of its beauty and the 

 numerous shades that can be produced by it, especially in the 

 Japanese silk-dyeing establishments. In Europe safflower is every- 

 where considered a fugitive colour ; so I was astonished to hear 

 the Japanese boasting not only of its beauty, but of its dura- 

 bility as well. But I soon found abundant opportunities for con- 

 vincing myself of the latter too, and of learning the process 

 employed in one of the largest dyeing establishments of Kioto. 

 Apart from mere external arrangements, it was as follows : 



The small, thin saffiower-cakes of commerce, were covered at 

 evening with as much water as they could take up, and left stand- 

 ing for a night. Next morning the mass thus soaked was poured 

 into a tub and some rice-chaff was added to prevent its sticking 

 together. Then it was trampled upon until kneaded into a stiff 

 paste. This was put into bags made of palm-rope (from Chamae- 

 rops excelsa), and subjected to the pressure of a heavy angle-press. 

 There flowed off a yellowish, muddy fluid, which contained the 

 saffiower-yellow — which was not used. 



The residuum was now poured into a tub, mixed with wood-ash 

 lye and water, and once more left standing for a night. Next 

 morning this mixture was again put into sacks, and a brown-red 

 fluid was squeezed out under the same angle-press. This contained 

 the safilower-red, or Carthamin (C14H16O7). It was precipitated 

 by means of Ume-dzu (plum-vinegar, see p. %6), and the muddy 

 fluid above was decanted off. Then the Carthamin was dissolved 

 in hot water and vinegar, and the solution applied directly in 

 making a beautiful Momo-iro (peach-blossom red) in silk. By 

 the addition of Ukon (Curcuma) powder to the solution, the 

 gorgeous Aka is produced — Turkish-red in various shades — which 

 has so often excited the admiration of critics, in Japanese and 

 Chinese silks. The aqueous solution of Kiwada bark is also used, 

 instead of the Curcuma, to get certain beautiful tones, and stuff 



