TURMERIC J SUMACH. 253 



suits from the very small amount of it produced, even on good 

 land ; even when the roots are planted thickly, the average quan- 

 tity for the whole three years (beyond which they should not be 

 allowed to remain in the ground,) is not above 26 Ibs. per acre. 

 Turmericis sometimes used as a substitute for Saffron, the colour 

 it produces being very bright, though deficient in durability. 

 This dye is procured from the roots of an East Indian plant 

 named Curcuma longa, which has also been cultivated in the 

 West Indian Islands with success. These roots are not unlike 

 ginger, either in figure or size ; and the dye brought to this country 

 consists simply of the roots, either whole or reduced to powder. 

 It is sometimes used to give brilliancy to other hues ; and is 

 employed as an ingredient in yellow varnishes. Several other 

 plants affording yellow dyes might be enumerated ; but the fore- 

 going are the chief. It may be mentioned, however, that the 

 clothiers of some parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, make use of 

 common Heath for their yellow and orange dyes ; this, with a 

 proper mordant, is said to produce on woollen cloth a more beau- 

 tiful colour, than either weld or quercitron ; but it is not so 

 permanent. 



398. Almost all Vegetables contain more or less colouring 

 matter, capable of affording/awm colours, or brownish hues inclin- 

 ing to yellow, red, or green. The dye chiefly employed for this 

 purpose, however, is obtained from the Sumach, a native of the 

 south of Europe and of Syria. The shoots of this plant are cut 

 down every year, close to the root ; and after being dried, they 

 are reduced to powder by means of a mill. An infusion of this 

 powder yields a greenish fawn colour, which may be altered by 

 mordants. The principal use of Sumach, however, is in dyeing 

 black, in the manner presently to be described. The colouring 

 matter of the husks of walnuts forms an excellent dye for wool ; 

 and it is much esteemed among the French dyers, for the agree- 

 able and durable hues it affords without the assistance of mor- 

 dants. In order to obtain this colouring matter, the husks are 

 kept in water for a year or two ; after which they give out much 

 more of it than when fresh. The Henna-juice, which is em- 

 ployed by the ladies of the East for the purpose of staining their 



