Nothing appeared too small or too unimportant to put in use in order to gain the desired results. Vegetables, fruits, plants, barks of trees and sometimes ludicrous mixtures were part of the workings for this purpose, all of which did meet with rewards—for dyes and beautiful colors were discovered.
From the plant indigoferae was obtained a blue stain, known as indigo. Specimens of dyeing found in the Egyptian tombs show examples of
indigo dye. This plant (indigoferae) grows and is industriously and profitably cultivated in South America and India. It was imported by the Romans from India, getting its name from that country. Two other important dyestuffs discovered in the early ages were saffron, which gives yellow shades, and madder-root, or to be more specific, the roots of madder, which produces brown and purple shades.
Thus was obtained and supplied the blue dye from vegetable or plant life; and from animal life came the most beautiful red dyes.
Cochineal, lac and kermes better known as “grain colors” and called so because of their general resemblance to grain, are really the dried bodies of insects, minute in size, called “cocci” berries, which lived and thrived on certain kinds of bushes and trees and which, after months of care, were taken from their berths and dried.
These dyestuffs, used of course with a mordant, produce beautiful shades, which are fast to water and light.
Perhaps no greater nor more remarkable changes have been made in any industry than in that of dyeing, for, the saving of labor, energy, time and money by the use of modern chemical agencies is
of a magnitude not easily appreciable. New ways have completely supplanted the old. This revolution was due to the accidental discovery of mauveine by Sir William Henry Perkin, who by this and his later experiments enriched the world with one of its most important discoveries. After his discoveries became known great factories sprang up throughout Europe manufacturing coal-tar dyestuffs, shortly producing the “Basic dyes.” Perkin’s discovery served as a stimulus to other chemists, who, working unceasingly, soon produced quantities of dyestuffs, which are designated as “Aniline Colors.”
Though progress has been made and the discoveries have simplified greatly the processes of dyeing, this does not mean that experimenting has ceased. By no means. Today interested and enthusiastic workers are anxiously and patiently experimenting, and hoping to find something new; perhaps they will, or it may be you, who, through your experimenting, will uncover to the world a new wonderful dyestuff.
In preparing raffia for work, take care to shake it well. You will find that the best and easiest way to make it take the dye will be to soak it over night. If this is not practicable then soak it at