The Adrian ojfle Red, and other fixed Colours, Sfc. S5J3 
natural state to float over the ley ; for, as the alkaline 
carbonate may contain more or less heterogeneous parts* 
in that case the ley must be weakened or strengthened, 
by a new portion of alkali, until it absolutely assume a 
milky appearance by the mixture of oil. When the ley 
is properly proportioned, thirty-two parts of it must be 
mixed at first gradually and then more rapidly, continu- 
ally stirring it, with one part of olive oil. This milky 
mixture will keep a long time ; and if it be observed that 
the oil attempts to float under the form of cream, the mix- 
ture must be again stirred. The impregnation of the 
skains should be intrusted to workmen most experienced 
in this operation, because an exact distribution of the oily 
parts has a great influence in regard to the equality of the 
shades. Each workman ought to put as much of the mil- 
ky mixture into any vessel as will admit of a certain 
number of skains to be squeezed and twisted in it with 
facility. This labour must be continued, always takiifg 
the same number of skains and the same quantity of milky 
mixture. The part which has been expressed, each time* 
must be poured into a vessel apart ; and the quantity of 
oil which the skains appear to have absorbed must be re- 
stored, if the little value of this residuum, in consequence 
of its containing but a small quantity of oil, does not make 
it be rejected. The impregnation may be effected in the 
whole mass of the milky mixture ; but in this case it will 
be necessary to continue to replace the quantity of oil 
which the skains may have absorbed, as soon as a dimi- 
nution is observed in the intensity of the milky appear- 
ance. Expertness in this process may be easily acquired 
by practice. After the whole skains have been dried to- 
gether, they must be impregnated a second time as before 
without being previously washed $ and when they have 
been dried they may be impregnated, as I have mention- 
ed in mv memoir, either once, two or tliree times, in the 
