fP ON COLORINGS 



What we ask is that our annual exhibitions may have their 

 interest and usefulness increased by a more extensive collection 

 of them. 



The committee also observe that there were exhibited a con- 

 siderable variety of fine fruit, of various kinds which they regret 

 to say they had not time particularly to examine. They will 

 take the liberty to suggest the propriety of appointing a commit- 

 tee another year, especially for this purpose. Much good 

 would no doubt result from it. 



For the Committee, 



G. B. Perriw 



As it has been one of the objects of the Essex Agricultural 

 Society to encourage domestic Manufactures — an important 

 branch of which is colorings an art more or less practised in 

 most farmers' families — an art for some beautiful specimens of 

 which gratuities from the funds of the Society have been given — 

 — an art which will be still more needed should the cuhure and 

 manufacture of silk among us be successfully prosecuted to any 

 considerable extent — the committee of publication, believing 

 that it will be interesting to a large portion of the readers of this 

 pamphlet, have procured the following essay to be prepared : — 



ON COLORING. 



The art of fixing on cloths beautiful colors, although not one 

 of the most necessary, has been made by the fashions, taste, and 

 pride of men, in all ages and nations, one of the most valued of 

 inventions. It is altogether a chemical art. Its theory is now 

 well understood, and is in a high degree interesting to every stu- 

 dious mind, useful to all engaged in manufacturing, or in buying, 

 selling, or consuming colored fabrics. It is, therefore, worthy 

 the attention of all our readers. 



Colors, to be permanent, must be combined with the fibres 

 of the silk, wool, cotton or linen of which the cloth is composed. 

 To understand how this can be effected, we must acquaint our- 

 selves with the laws of chemical affinity. Affinity is nothing 



