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Hickory-Bark Color

Hickory bark will color a beautiful bright yellow, that will not fade by use. It will color cotton and wool. Have the bark shaved off or hewed off, and chopped in small pieces, and put in a brass kettle or tin boiler, with soft-water enough to cover the bark, and boil until the strength is out; then skim out the chips and put in alum. Have it pounded pretty fine. For a pailful of dye I should put in two good handfuls, and wet the goods in warm water so there will be no dry spots on them; wring them as dry as you can, shake them out and put them into the dye. Have a stick at hand to push them down and stir them immediately, so they can have a chance all over alike. If the color is not deep and bright enough, raise the goods out of the dye, lay them across a stick over the kettle, and put in another handful of alum. Stir it well and dip again. It will want to be kept in the dye and over the fire to a scalding heat about an hour, but keep stirring and airing, so they will not spot.

XXXIII. Coloring Carpet Rags.