Reports by the juries. Class IV. Animal and vegetable substances chiefly used in manufactures, as implements, or for ornaments / Richard Owen, Edward Solly, reporters.

Owen, Richard, Sir, 1804-1892.

Date:: [1851]

Credit: Reports by the juries. Class IV. Animal and vegetable substances chiefly used in manufactures, as implements, or for ornaments / Richard Owen, Edward Solly, reporters. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$Class IV.] SAMPLES OF MANY DYE-WOODS—WEEDS—ROOTS, &c. Specimens of gamboge, turmeric, myrobolans, and a yellow resinous substance resembling gamboge, called Gaju gum, are contributed from Ceylon. A sample of lichen, or orchilla weed, from tbe Cape of Good Hope, is exhibited by C. Watermeyer (51). A specimen of cam wood, from the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Tchadda, is shown by Dr. Me Willi am ; and some crude indigo from Abbrokutu, is contri- buted by Dr. Beecham (12). In the collection from British Guiana there is but one dye or colouring material, namely the Lana dye, exhibited by H. A. Kock (55 b). This substance is obtained from the fruit of the Lana tree (GeTii'pa ATnencana, Linmeus), a tree very abundant throughout the colony, particularly on the banks of the Rivei Berbice ; the colour dyed with it is a good bluish black. The colours dyed with the fruit of this tree are remarkably permanent, a fact which has very long been known, though hardly any attempt appears to have been made to introduce it to the notice of European dyers. The Jury deemed this specimen worthy of Honour- able Mention. Samples of fustic (ij/ius eotinus); logwood (HeTtiatoxylon CaTYipechianum) ; and turmeric, are included in the Trinidad collection of raw produce. A promising specimen of lichen, or orchilla weed, from the Falkland Islands {Roccella fucifoi'mis), is exhibited by G. T. Whittington. ITe various dark-coloured resins of Australia have already been alluded to , the colouring matters of the different species of Xa^ithoi'hoeci, though not remark- ably brilliant, are well worthy of notice. Very fine specimens of some of these resins are exhibited by the Colonization Assurance Corporation (see page 182). Good samples of the Xanthorhoea resins are shown from Flinders Island, by J. Milligan. A remarkable colouring material, called blood juice, the produce of a Norfolk Island tree, and said to be used for dyeing calico, and as an indelible marking ink, is contributed by Sir W. Denison (290). The Jury deemed this substance worthy of Honourable Mention. Specimens of Hinau (^ElcGOCdvpus Hioidu), a bark used in New Zealand for dyeing black, are exhibited by McVay ; these will be again referred to as a tan- ning material. The flax and other substances shown in illustration of the use of this bark by the natives in dyeing black are remarkable for the depth and brilliancy of the dye. Lichen, or orchilla weed, from New Zealand, is contributed by J. A. Smith (14): this appears to contain a good deal of colouring matter, and was, therefore, deemed worthy of Honourable Mention. A very fine sample of Alkanet root (A.7icliusd tinctovid') is shown in the Austrian collections. Specimens of Hungwa, or saffron ; turmeric ; and a red colour from China, are exhibited by Her Majesty’s Consul at Shanghae ; samples of whi-mei, a green dye ; and of the fruit of the Odrdenid Tddicdns, used to dye yellow, are also shown. In the Egyptian collection are specimens of indigo, saffron, and sumach. The specimens of French madder, though not numerous, are of considerable interest and importance. A small series of samples of madder, and of garancine,$