95. To prepare Annotto

95.    To prepare Annotto. Into 2 gallons of water put 1 pound of Annotto, 4 ounces of pearlash, and 2 ounces of soft soap, and apply heat, stirring until the whole is dissolved. When convenient it is best to boil the solution.

96. To prepare Catechu

96.    To prepare Catechu. To 7 or 8 gallons of water put 1 pound of catechu, and boil till it is all dissolved; then add 2 ounces of sulphate of copper, stir, and it is ready for use. Nitrate of Copper may also be used, taking 1 wine-glassful of the solution made according to the next receipt.

97. To make Nitrate of Copper Solution

97.    To make Nitrate of Copper Solution. To 1 part by measure nitric acid, and 2 parts water, add metallic copper so long as the acid will dissolve it, then bottle the solution for use.

98. To make Sulphate of Indigo

98.    To make Sulphate of Indigo. Into 5 pounds of the most concentrated sulphurio acid, stir in by degrees 1 pound of the est indigo, finely ground; expose this mixture to a heat of about 160° Fahr. for 10 or 12 hours, stirring it occasionally; a little rubbed upon-a window-pane should assume a purple-blue color.

99. To make Indigo Extract

99.    To make Indigo Extract. This is prepared by proceeding exactly as stated for sulphate of indigo and then diluted with about 4 gallons hot water, and the whole put upon a thick woolen filter, over a large vessel, and hot water poured upon the filter, until it passes through nearly colorless; the blackish matter retained upon the filter is thrown away, and the filtered solution is transferred to a leaden vessel, and evaporated to about 3 gallons, to which is added about 4 pounds chloride of sodium (table salt) and well stirred; the whole is again put upon a wooden filter and allowed to drain. The extract remains as a thin pasty mass upon the filter, and is ready for use.

100. To make Red Liquor

100.    To make Red Liquor. Into 1 gallon hot water place 2 pounds alum; dissolve, in a separate vessel, 2 pounds acetate of lead in 1 gallon water; in a third vessel dissolve 1/2 pound crystallized soda; mix all the solutions together and stir well for some time, then allow to stand over night; decant the clear solution which is ready for use.

101. To make Caustic Potash

101.    To make Caustic Potash. To 3 gallons water add 2 pounds either black or pearl ashes, and boil; when seething add newly-slaked lime, until a small quantity taken out does not effervesce when an acid is added to it. To test this, take a tumbler half filled with cold water, put a table-spoonful of the boiling lye into the tumbler, and add a few drops sulphuric acid; if the acid were added to the hot lye, it would spurt up and endanger the operator. When the addition of acid causes no effervescence, the boiling and adding of lime is stopped, and the whole allowed to settle; then remove the clear liquid into a vessel having a cover, to prevent it from taking carbonic acid from the air. This serves as a stock for general use. The lime sediment remaining may have some hot water added, which will give a strong lye, and may be used for first boils for yarn or heavy cloth.