No. 129.] 447 



are the best ; the subsequent growths are less and less rich in. 

 the indigo. The process of dyeing is in some measure an imita- 

 tion of the process of nature ; that is, to change the colorless sap 

 by oxidation. Woad is far less sensible to cold than indigo. 

 Great care is requisite in the fermentation of indigo, or great loss 

 is found in the material and quality. There are five colors in the 

 indigo plant, some of which must be got rid of. Indigotine is 

 now prepared in order to produce the finest and richest blue. 



Chairman. — The public is indebted to those citizens who give 

 their time and care to spread "knowledge, for in doing so they 

 give valuable instruction to thousands who cannot attend lectures 

 or pass their time in libraries . 



Mr. Van Wyck stated that after the very able dissertation we 

 had just heard on the subject, and the practical and very useful 

 remarks of Professor Antisell, as a chemist, in refation to vege- 

 table dyes, and colors generally, I cannot expect to throw much 

 light on the matters for discussion. I would have wished, also, 

 that our President, the proposer of the question, could have been 

 present, that we might have had his views on it, as no doubt he 

 had given it some attention, and would have assisted us mate- 

 rially in developing some of its more intricate points. It con- 

 tains many of these, and requires considerable research, as well 

 as professional skill to elucidate them to make them of much 

 public use. The best vegetable blue dye used at this day, ac- 

 cording to the best information I have been able to collect, is un- 

 doubtedly indigo. This grows abundantly in various parts of 

 the world ; but the best is grown within or near the tropics, 

 from twenty to thirty-five degrees. It is grown in the East 

 Indies, China, Hindostan, Java, and South America. It 

 grows perfectly well in some of our Southern States, especially 

 South Carolina. Some of the best kind comes from Guatimala, 

 South America. Java grows the article very fine. In most of 

 these countries- it is only used as an article of commerce or 

 trade. Europe is the place where there is the greatest demand 

 for it,-;-England, France, Germany, &c., &c. In most of these 

 countries it is only used as an article of commerce or trade. 

 In all these, population is dense; their manufacturing es- 



