374 USES OF PLANTS BY THE CHIPPEWA INDIANS  [pru. nn. 44 
FourtH FoRMULA (DARK YELLOW) 
Sanguinaria canadensis L. Bloodroot. Double handful of shredded root. 
Prunus americana Marsh. Wild plum. Single handful of shredded root. 
Hot water. 
Boil these together. 
Firth ForMvuLa (BrichHt YELLOw) 
Coptis trifolia (L) Salisb. Goldthread. Roots. 
Hot water. 
This plant has long slender roots and a great many were required. 
As in other formulz, the material was boiled in the dye. 
SixtH ForMvuLa 
Rhus glabra L. Sumae. Inner bark. 
Sanguinaria, canadensis L. Bloodroot. Root. 
Prunus americana Marsh. Wild plum. Inner bark. 
Hot water. 
The inner bark of the plum was scraped, and it was said that this 
was used “to set the color.” 
SEVENTH FORMULA 
The formula next following was used in coloring a piece of white 
blanket for the writer, and produced an ecru or “khaki” color. 
The piece of blanket was exposed to the weather for several weeks 
and showed no change in color. 
Sanguinaria canadensis L. Bloodroot. 
Prunus americana Marsh. Wild plum. 
Cornus stolonifera Michx. Alder. 
Hot water. 
PURPLE DYE 
The material used to secure this color is rotten maple wood. It is 
difficult to obtain, as the wood must be very old. 
Rotten maple, double handful. 
Grindstone dust, single handful. 
Hot water. 
The material is boiled in the dye, as in other colors. 
GREEN DYE 
The Chippewa in Minnesota do not color green with native dyes 
but a birch-bark basket decorated with dried grass in a bright green 
color was obtained in Ontario. The Chippewa woman who colored 
it said that she used green dye, one plant ingredient in the dye being 
obtained. It was impossible at that season of the year to obtain 
the principal ingredient. 
