112 Observations on Maddening^ 
kaline solution of that earth, the skains must first be dis- 
engaged from every saline substance, as well as from the 
superfluous oil, by rinsing them a long time in very pure 
running water ; after which they must be arranged, with- 
out drying them, on an apparatus, which the operator 
may construct according to the form of the boiler,— in 
which it is to be placed in such a manner, that during 
the process of dyeing, the skains maybe continually sha 
ken and turned, in order to catch every where, and in an 
uniform manner, the colouring particles. The bath must 
be composed of madder, mixed with a sixth of pounded 
chalk, and diluted with about 80 or 40 parts of water. 
The heat must be carried only to such a degree that the 
hand can be held in the bath for an hour without being 
scalded ; and it is to be maintained at this degree for two 
hours, either by diminishing or increasing the fuel. Three 
hours dyeing will be sufficient to exhaust the madder : 
the skains when taken from the bath must be washed in 
a large quantity of water to cleanse them ; they are then 
to be cleared by boiling them a pretty long time in water 
Containing bran inclosed in a bag, adding soap and alka- 
line carbonate to give the red a rosy or carmine shade. 
As I never had occasion to dye cotton or linen thread 
on a large scale, 1 employed a small boiler, which served 
me at the same time for the process of clearing : in the 
latter operation I confined myself to boiling the skains, 
properly arranged, in water containing a bag filled with 
bran, for eight hours successively ; and, that I might not 
interrupt the ebullition, I replaced the evaporated part by 
the addition of more boiling water. In this clearing I 
employed neither soap nor alkali ; yet I obtained a red 
superior in beauty and fixity to that of the Levant, and 
which, in every respect, will bear a comparison with the 
best -colours dyed in France. 
