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HISTORY OF Tllli VEGETABLK KINGDO.M. 



it imparts is not so Ijeautilul as that obtained 

 from kerines or cocliineiU, but being mucli less 

 expensive, it is extensively employed for com- 

 mon stufft. Linen takes this dye with more dif- 

 ficulty than cotton. It is seldom used for silk, 

 but is one of the most valuable dyeing drugs for 

 a variety of purposes. It is an agent for dyeing 

 many colours, and is therefore peculiarly adapted 

 to the process of calico-printing, since by the 

 use of different mordants, a variety of hues may 

 be produced by immersion in the madder bath. 

 One mordant, in combining with it, precipitates 

 the colouring matter red, another purple, ano- 

 ther black, and so of every possible shade from 

 lilac to black, and from pink to deep red. If a 

 portion of weld or quercitron be added to the 

 madder, every shade from brown to orange may 

 be produced. Tin, iron, and aluminous bases, 

 as well as other mordants, are used for this pur- 

 pose, dependent on the colour required. It is a 

 matter of doubt and speculation with chemists 

 whether these various colours are produced by 

 the combination of the colouring principle of 

 madder Avith the different mordants, by which a 

 chemical change takes place, or whether several 

 colouring matters are not really contained in the 

 substance itself, and severally precipitated or 

 retained by the varying action of the different 

 agents to which it may be subjected. It is, how- 

 ever, certain that it contains at least two distinct 

 colouring matters, a fawn and a red, and that 

 the admixtui-e of the former with the latter very 

 much injures its clearness and beauty. In con- 

 sequence of this, two kinds of red are obtained 

 from madder. The first is simply called madder 

 red, which contains the whole of the colouring 

 matter. The other possesses far more lustre, 

 and is much more valued ; it is called Turkey 

 red, because first obtained from the Levant. Its 

 superior brilliancy is imparted in consequence of 

 the red colouring matter being alone preserved ; 

 and while the tint communicated excels in 

 brightness, it has the additional and great advan- 

 tage of extreme durability. 



The manner of producing this desirable effect 

 was for a long period of time a subject of much 

 interest and inquiry, the process used in Turkey 

 being enveloped in mystery. The industry of 

 the French artisans was stimulated by the inter- 

 est which their government took in the dis- 

 covery. Yet attempts at imitating this beauti- 

 ful dye were long fruitless, and when at length 

 they proved successful, this success was limited 

 to one or two dye-houses. It was only by very 

 slow degrees that it came more diffused, and then 

 each individual who acquired the knowledge, 

 jealously guarded liis own peculiar secrets which 

 he had introduced in the process. 



At length the Abbe Mazeas piiblished the 

 result of his experiments on the subject ; and in 

 the year 17C5, the French government promul- 



gated all the infonnatiou which had by its 

 direction been diligently collected. These 

 instructions were entitled, " A memoir contain- 

 ing the process for the incarnate red dye of Adri- 

 anople on cotton yarn." lierthellot, Vitalis, and 

 other eminent chemists, have likewise subse- 

 quently given an account of the course of pro- 

 cedure. All nearly agree in the detail, whence 

 it appears that the process is most elaborate and 

 tedious. Many different ingredients are used 

 previously to applying the madder. Oil, sheep's 

 dung, calf's blood, gall-nuts, soda, alum, and 

 subsequently a solution of tin are employed, and 

 the yarn undergoes seventeen distinct ojierations 

 before it is finally imbued with its rich colouring. 

 Many of these materials are considered by Dr 

 Ure as unnecessary, and his opinion has received 

 the confirmation of an eminent calico-printer, 

 who assured him that oil and alumina are the 

 only essential mordants in the process. 



It is said that a dilute super-sulphate of potash 

 is now used with success in France for separating 

 the two colouring mattci'S. 



It was not until the year 1790 that the art of 

 dyeing the Turkey red was introduced into our 

 country. At that time M. Papillon, a French- 

 man, formed an establishment at Glasgow for 

 carrying on the process. He obtained a pre- 

 mium from the commissioners and trustees for 

 manufactures in Scotland, on the condition of 

 communicating his secret to Dr lilack, it being 

 stipulated on the Doctor's part that it should not 

 be divulged for a certain term of years, during 

 which period M. Papillon was to have the sole 

 use of, and the benefit accruing from his pro- 

 cess. The term being expired, the process pur- 

 sued was published, and found to be very similar 

 to that already given by the French chemists. 



Another species of madder has been cultivated 

 in France by M. D'Anibourney, who found it 

 growing wild among the rocks of Oissel in JNor- 

 mandy. On trial it yielded a dye as beautiful as 

 that of Smyrna madder, and he was therefore 

 induced to prosecute its culture. This plant 

 is rather different from the madder grown in 

 Holland. Its roots are more slendei-, and of a 

 less bright colour. They are furnished with few 

 fibres at their joints, and those joints are farther 

 apart ; the stalk is not so thick, and the leaves 

 are narrower, and of a paler green. 



In consequence of the impossibility of drying 

 his roots without fire, M. D'Ambourney was 

 induced to use them fresh after being well washed 

 and cleansed. It is estimated that the root of 

 the madder loses seven-eighths of its weight 

 when dried and reduced to powder. But four 

 pounds of the fresh root were found to be as 

 efficacious as one pound of pulverized madder; 

 therefore, by this plan, twice as much effective 

 colouring matter was obtained : besides which 

 advantage there were many others, — the expense 



