454 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Kobin Hood fame. It is alluded to by Sir Walter Scott in " The Lady of 

 the Lake" (v. 17): 



Four mounted squires in Lincoln green. 



Wool thus dyed may be obtained in many shades, depending upon the depth 

 of the original blue. Some of the lighter shades are very beautiful, 

 approaching the so-called grass green, to which Chaucer refers in his poem 

 of " The Flower and the Leaf " : 



Freshly yturfed, whereof the greene grass 

 most like to greene wool. 



In addition to the Kendal green previously referred to, specimens are 

 shown in which the yellow has been supplied by the fresh inner bark of 

 the Crab Apple (Pyrus Makes), of the Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), and by the 

 root of the common Dock (Bumex ohtusifolius). 



Less brilliant greens are obtained from the ripe berries of the common 

 Privet with alum, and the flowering tops of the common Reed {Phragmites 

 communis) with copperas. Not a single really good red is obtainable from 

 any British plant, whereas Sir Thomas Wardle found red to be the com- 

 monest colour in the dye-plants of Asia when he examined them some 

 years ago. The beautiful but fugacious cudbears from the maceration 

 with ammonia of the th alius Zccawom tartarea, Umhilicaria polyrhiza, 

 and Urceolaria scruposa are represented. 



The dull reds of Potentilla Tormentilla and Comarum palustre require 

 a trace of potash to develop them. The fast if not brilliant madder 

 red of the root of Galium verum, with the more beautiful pale orange, are 

 the only representatives of the Buhiacece shown. Perhaps one of the 

 specimens nearest to red is that dyed by the fresh inner bark of Bctida 

 alba. 



One plant only yields a blue colour — Isatis tinctoria, the well-known 

 Woad. Various shades are represented which possess certain peculiarities 

 in tint that are greatly admired by those persons who appreciate " art 

 colours." Mr. W. Croysdale, of Leeds, tells me that these peculiar tints 

 can be produced in indigo in certain conditions of the Woad-indigo vat, 

 but to go into the subject of Woad, and the process of dyeing with it, must 

 be reserved for a future occasion. 



For help and material my thanks are due to Mr. Angus Grant, of 

 Drumnadrochit ; Mrs. Alexander Grant, of Loch-en-Eilan ; Mr. Wm. 

 Phillips, F.L.S. ; Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S. ; Mr. R. V. Tellan, Bodmin ; 

 Mr. J. Martindale, Kendal ; Mr. G. F. Scott-Elliott, Glasgow ; Mr. Carleton 

 Rea, Worcester ; Sir Thomas Wardle, Leek. 



