70 FLY-FISHING AND FLY-MAKING. 



feathers are dry, when they will be found of very satis- 

 factory plumago. Some of these dyes, however, are not 

 very satisfactory such as the browns and their shades, 

 and I therefore give some formulas from the last edition 

 of "Foster's Scientific Angler," one of the most reliable 

 and practical of modern angling books : 



' 'In preparing a batch of feathers for staining, the 

 uniform size required should be selected ; these should be 

 first soaked in warm water, in which has been placed a 

 scrap of common soap or soda ; .this removes the oil 

 natural to the feathers, and enables the dye to strike even- 

 ly throughout ; when drained they are ready for the dye. 

 In case of large feathers it may be as well, in order to 

 strike a delicate hue, to first steep in a solution of sul- 

 phuric acid, but, generally speaking, this is uncalled for. 

 We now append a few useful recipes for natural dyes : 



FIERY BROWN. Camwood, logwood or partridge- 

 wood chips in equal parts, boiled in pure water. 



OLIVE. Fustic and camwood or logwood in equal parts, 

 with a very small portion of copperas added when at the 

 point of boiling ; the last named determines the shade. 

 The outside of large onions boiled, also, are good. 



GREEN. An infusion of fustic chips, to which must 

 be added oil of vitriol, in a quantity sufficient to gain 

 the shade required. 



LIGHT YELLOW. Barberry bark in solution. 



DUN. Logwood and copperas. 



BROWN. Fustic chips, two-thirds; logwood, one-third; 

 boil in rain water. 



BLACK. One-half pound logwood chips, boil in half 

 a pint of water ; this done, put in one ounce copperas 



