1. Half a pound of good Dantzic or American potash dissolved in one quart of rain-water, and preserved in a bottle well corked.
2. Salts or oil of tartar, in the same proportions as above.
3. A beautiful brown may be procured from the green shells of walnuts. To prepare this, a quantity of the green shells, when the nuts are gathered, must be pounded in a mortar to extract the juice, and then put into a vessel capable of holding a sufficient quantity of water. The water being put in, the whole should be frequently stirred, and left to soak, with the vessel covered. Afterwards the liquid must be passed through a sieve, the juice well expressed, and bottled, with some common salt, for use. This liquid, after fermentation, will produce the best effects, for the uniform tints, as it tends to soften the leather, and will not corrode.
BLUE.
1. It is usual with many binders to use Scott's Liquid Blue, but it is necessary to know the preparation of the colour. Perhaps the best and most simple one known is one given by Poerner, which is as follows:—In four ounces of sulphuric acid, of 66 degrees, mix gradually one ounce of finely-powdered indigo, so as to form a sort of pulp. Place the vessel in another containing boiling water, for some hours, and then leave it to cool. Afterwards put to it a small portion of good potash, dry and finely powdered, stirring the whole well, and letting it rest for twenty-four hours, when bottled, and use as required. This colour will appear nearly black, but may be made to any shade by adding water to it. If any portion remain after being diluted, it must be put into a separate bottle, as if mixed with the first preparation the whole would be deteriorated.
2. A readier blue may be prepared by mixing one ounce of powdered indigo with two ounces of oil of vitriol, and letting it stand for twenty-four hours, and then adding twelve ounces of pure water.
PURPLE.
Boil half a pint of archill or logwood with vinegar and water, of each half a pint.
LILAC.