20 



(b) Not only is the future market of indigo very seriously 

 menaced, but in many dyeing establishments in France the 

 German artificial dye has ousted it altogether. Their opinion 

 of the syntheric indigo is that its composition is absolutely 

 regular. This quality of uniformity in composition has the 

 great advantage of facilitating manipulation, of enabling equal 

 shades of colouring almost mathematically, to be obtained. It 

 has the advantage of greater cleanliness, whence the possibility 

 of obtaining more beautiful tints, which it is always easy enough 

 to tarnish, if it is desired to imitate the tones of natural indigo 

 of inferior quality. The artificial indigo was at first used with- 

 out previous preparation by crushing. With equal quantities 

 of both products, better results were obtained from natural 

 indigo, but the yield of synthetic indigo was found to be greatly 

 increased if previously crushed. There was then no loss. The 

 cost of the artificial dye sold at the price of the natural product 

 was thereby lessened. It was also found that the same mills, 

 hitherto employed in the crushing of natural indigo, could be 

 used in the crushing of the German dye. The change of dye 

 by dyers entailed therefore no additional plant. 



(c) All the small dyers in France have given up natural * 

 indigo for the reasons mentioned in paragraph f 6). Another 

 advantage to them is that they can order small quantities ef 

 the artificial dye as needed, and do not require to lay in a stock 

 and insure it. 



(cl) Another authority informs us that synthetic indigo is 

 easier of manipulation and more pleasing to the eye. It will 

 gradually take the place of natural indigo in almost all cases. 

 But as the vegetable dye gives more solidity to the cloth than 

 synthetic indigo, it will still be used, either pure or mixed, by 

 the great wholesale manufacturers of cloth for uniforms by Go- 

 vernment contractors. Government inspectors are appointed to 

 verify the nature of the dye used in the making of cloth for 

 uniforms. There is consequently some hope of natural indigo 

 not being altogether dispensed with. But how long this will 

 last, in view of possible improvements of synthetic indigo, it is 

 difficult to say. Doubtless the dyes are already being mixed to 

 reduce cost. The German Government is said to leave the 

 choice of the dye to the manufacturer of the cloth. 



(e) The German manufacturers give the synthetic indigo 

 the following praise :— (1) Great purity; vivid colouring. (2) 

 Uniformity of quality. (3) Economy, as every bit off then- 

 dye can be used, whereas the vegetable dye always leaves a 

 certain per centage of deposit, not utilisable, in the dye vat. It 



