WHERE COLORS COME FROM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1801, 11 October 1888, Page 4

WHERE COLORS COME FROM.

From the cochineal insects are obtained the gorgeous carmine, as well as the crimson, scarlet, carmine aud purple lakes. Sepia is the inky fluid discharged by the cuttlefish to render the water opaque for its concealmen f when attacked. Indian yellow is from the camel. Ivory black and bone black are made out of ivory chips. The exquisite Prussian blue is got by fusing horses’ hoofs and other refuse animal matter with impure potassium carbonate. It was discovered by an accident. In the vegetable kingdom are included the lakes, derived from roots, barks, and gums. Blue-black is from the charcoal of the vine stalk. Lampblack is soot from certain resinous substmees. From the madder plant, which grows in Hindostan, is manufactured Turkey red. Gamboge comes from the yellow sap of a tree, which the natives of Siam catch in cocoanut shells. Raw sienna is the natural earth from the neighborhood of Sienna, Italy. ‘Raw umber is an earth from Umbria, and is also burnt. To these vegetable pigments may probably be added Indian ink, which is said to be made from burnt camphor. The Chinese, who alone produce it, will not reveal the secret of its composition. Mastic—the base of the rarnish so called is from the gum of the mastic tree, indigenous to the Grecian archipelago. Bistre is the soot of wood ashes. Of real ultramarine but little is found in the market. It is obtained from the precious lapis-lazuli, and commands a fabulous price. Chinese white is zinc, scarlet is iodine of mercury, and ciannahar, or native vermilion, is fr-m quicksilver ore.