DK. C. B. PLOWRIGHT ON BRITISH DYE PLANTS. 
387 
The plants, phanerogams and cryptogams examined, number 
some 68 or 70. They have produced about 150 different shades 
of colour. No attempt has been made to test their tinctorial 
properties with the more modern mordants, but only such simple 
substances as alum, ammonia, lime, potash, and iron sulphate have 
been used, such in fact as our ancestors could have employed. The 
reason for this was to see what shades and colours our ancestors 
had to be content with, before the introduction into common use of 
exotic dye plants. The general outcome of these experiments is 
this, first, that all the tints and colours which were obtainable from 
British dye plants were essentially of a sombre hue. In actual 
number the yellows exceed all others. Of these yellows, one or 
two were so good that they continued in use until within the last 
half century. Then again no bright permanent red can be produced 
from any British plant. The brilliant hues which some of the 
lichens yield, could not by any process known to our ancestors be 
rendered fast against sunlight. The only blue colour they possessed 
was that of Woad (I sat is tincturin'), a colour of great beauty and 
durability, but one exceedingly difficult to extract from the plant. 
Although a colour of prehistoric origin, yet it is one which to-day can 
only be obtained by the most careful management. In point of 
fact the discovery, that Isatis tinctoria was capable of dyeing wool 
blue, was as great a marvel in its way as the discovery of the art of 
producing fire. The useful colours, the browns and blacks, tannin 
derivatives, are obtainable from various barks and roots : Oak, 
Alder, Walnut, Water Lily, Tormentil, &c., while some of the 
Lichens yield browns of great beauty. These colours are still made 
use of in Scotland. 
In the subjoined enumeration, a summary of the results obtained 
is given, which it is hoped may be of interest, not only from 
a botanical, but also from an archaeological stand-point. I am much 
indebted for help to many friends who have aided me in the 
collection of material, and in many ways. Sir Thomas Wardle of 
Leek has helped me with suggestions and advice ; Mr. A. G. Perkin 
(A.G.P.) with the chemistry of the subject ; and Messrs. Angus 
Grant of Drumnadrochit, E. V. Tellan of Bodmin, J. Martindale 
of Kendal, G. F. Scott Elliott of Glasgow, Carleton Eea of Worcester, 
II. Hoff of Wormegay, E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., of the Pharmaceutical 
