370 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



trough through which a slender stream of water is 

 constantly flowing ; while, still farther to promote the 

 solution of the yellow colouring matter, a man in the 

 trough treads the sack and subjects every part to the 

 action of the water : when this flows without receiv- 

 ing any yellow tinge in its passage the washing is 

 discontinued, and the safflower, if not wanted for 

 immediate use, is made into cakes, which are known 

 in commerce under the name of stripped safflower, 

 It is principally used for dyeing silk, producing 

 poppy-red, bright orange, cherry, rose, or flesh- 

 colour, according to the alteratives employed in 

 combination. These are alum, potash, tartar, citric 

 acid, or sulphuric acid. 



A smaller variety of the carthamus is cultivated 

 in Egypt*, where it forms a considerable article of 

 commerce. Hasselquist, in his * Voyage d'Egypte,' 

 describes the manner in which the Egyptians prepare 

 the carthamus for use. As soon as the flowers are 

 gathered, they are squeezed between two stones to 

 extract all their moisture; they are then washed 

 several times with pit well-water, which in Egypt 

 is naturally brackish. On being taken out of the 

 water they are pressed between the hands, and then 

 spread out on mats upon terraces ; they are covered 

 during the day lest the drying should be too quickly 

 completed, and they are exposed to the dews of 

 night. Every part is turned over from time to time, 

 and when found to be dried to the proper point, the 

 whole is taken up and preserved for sale. 



The colouring matter from the stripped safflower 

 is obtained by the application of an alkaline carbo- 



* "The dyes the Egyptians use," saysVoIney, "are probably as 

 old as the time of the Tyrians, and they carry them at this day 

 to a perfection not unworthy that people; but their workmen, 

 jealous of the art, make an impenetrable mystery of the process," 

 Travels in Egypt and Syria, vol. ii. 



