One method of making blue-black ink is to digest together 7 oz. of bruised galls and 1/2oz. of bruised cloves for about a fortnight in 5 pt. of water. Filter and add ooz. of sulphate of iron and 1 fluid dr. of sulphuric acid. "Well shake until the ingredients dissolve properly, and add 1 oz. of indigo paste, and again filter if desirable. Galls for ink-making should always be bought whole, as, if already bruised, it is impossible to estimate their value. The best galls are known as Aleppo; they have a warty surface, are blue or green, and should be heavy and free from holes (showing that they have been collected before the insect has escaped). English galls are of no value. For use, the galls are broken up into a coarse powder in an iron or bell-metal mortar.

(2) Dissolve in 12 oz. of water 7 oz. of sulphate of iron and 20 drops of sulphuric acid; in a similar bulk of water dissolve about loz. of tannin. Dissolve in 1 oz. of alcohol - spirit of wine - 21 gr. of methyl blue. Add to the first solution the methyl and alcohol, then add the tannin water, and shake. This does not need to be kept to mature, as do the indiso inks.

(3) Rub 6 parts of Prussian blue with 1 part of oxalic acid and a little water to a smooth paste and dilute with water.

(4)Work together 15 parts of bruised galls, 5 parts of ferrous sulphate, 1 parts of iron filings, 200 parts of water, J part of indigo, and 3 parts of sulphuric acid.

(5) A blue-black ink, but one which appears violet at the time of writing, is made by bringing elderberries, and setting them in a warm place for three days to ferment: strain, and add to each 6 pt. of juice 1/2oz. of sulphate of iron and 1/2 oz. of acetic acid.