Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes

How to silver a mirror, brew ginger beer, kill moths, make fireworks, tan a hide, bronze iron, cure a ham and clean a straw hat: William B. Dick's numbered encyclopedia answered the questions a nineteenth-century household actually had.

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Yellow Drab

Into a vessel of alum; wash out in hot water, then work for warm water put 1 pint annotto liquor (see 30 minutes in a decoction of 2 pounds fustic No. 95); work for 15 minutes and wash then and 4 ounces logwood; lift, and add2 ounces and 4 ounces logwood; lift, and add 2 ounces work for 15 minutes in a decoction of pound alum in solution: work 10 minutes, wash and sumach and 1 pound fustic; lift, and add 4 dry. ounces copperas and 1 ounce alum in solution; work 10 minutes, wash in cold water and dry.

A variety of drabs may be dyed in this way by varying the proportions of the sumach and fustic, and by introducing a little logwood or peachwood.

A little chemic (see No. 162) added to the last wash water will induce a greener hue if required.

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