The Dyer's Guide / Being a compendium of the art of dyeing linen, cotton, silk, wool, muslin, dresses, furniture, &c. &c.; with the method of scouring wool, bleaching cotton, &c., and directions for ungumming silk, and for whitening and sulphuring silk and wool; and also an introductory epitome of the leading facts in chemistry, as connected with the art of dyeing

by Thomas Packer

A cheaper POPPY with annatto and Brazil wood.

The silk is to be grounded with annatto as before; when well washed off it must be alumed and washed off again; then passed through the decoction of Brazil wood, washed off again, again passed through a fresh decoction of Brazil wood; and every time that goods are passed through the dye, as has been before stated, they must be worked from end to end of the skeins, from five to seven times, to have them even, and to give them a full opportunity of combining with the colouring materials of the dye.

These repetitions must of course be in number proportionate to the slightness or intensity of the colour wanted. With the Brazil decoction it is necessary to mix well a little soap liquor, about five quarts to thirty pounds of silk. This keeps the alum used to receive the Brazil decoction not only from producing a stiffness, but, on the contrary, preserves the silk soft and pliant.

The above poppy serves for a ground for brown red colours, by the addition of logwood. A decoction of logwood, Brazil wood, and old fustic, as has been before observed, should always be kept ready boiled.