372 



ANIL TREPADOR. 



[append. 



are from two to three inches in length, and of propor- 

 tionate breadth ; it is enough to soak a piece of cotton- 

 cloth in its juice for it to become green, and from this 

 colour it is changed to blue by the absorption of the 

 oxygen of atmospheric air. The colour becomes so 

 fixed, that it resists the action of soap and the lye of pot- 

 ash, and it rather brightens than fades after it has un- 

 dergone these experiments. It is probable that by fer- 

 mentation and beating, it may yield blue fecula, like the 

 common indigo (indigofera tinctoria). I know that it 

 may be cultivated with ease, for I have sown the seeds, 

 which are like those of the lettuce ; they come up in a 

 few days. The land which is adapted to it is varzea 

 fresca, or marshy land composed of ma gape, or stiff 

 clay. 



Anil trepador, Cissus tinctorius: — Arrud. Cent. 

 Plant. Pern. 



If the leaves of this plant are rubbed upon a white 

 cloth, they impart to it a green colour like that of any 



dilute nitric acid, it may be rendered nearly white by the usual 

 means. I have not had sufficient time to ascertain whether the wax 

 can be more effectually bleached by long-continued exposure, nor 

 have I had an opportunity of submitting it to the processes em- 

 ployed by the bleachers of bees' wax. 



" Perhaps the most important part of the present enquiry is that 

 which relates to the combustion of the vegetable wax, in the form of 

 candles. The trials which have been made to ascertain its fitness 

 for this purpose are extremely satisfactory ; and when the wick is 

 properly proportioned to the size of the candle, the combustion is as 

 perfect and uniform as that of common bees' wax. The addition of 

 one eighth to one tenth part of tallow is sufficient to obviate the 

 brittleness of the wax in its pure state, without giving it any un- 

 pleasant smell, or materially impairing the brilliancy of its flame. 

 A mixture of three parts of the vegetable wax with one part of bees' 

 wax also makes very excellent candles." 



