INK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 206, 11 January 1872, Page 6

INK.

It is certain that a great portion of the ink imported into this country is inferior or becomes so from the long sea voyage. We observe that Mr. B. Wells of Taranaki, writing to the local* newspapers, states that we have at our own doors the material for making as good ink as can be required. " The mode of ink-making is as follows : — I strip a small bundle of bark from a hinau tree, this I bruise with a hammer and place in a clean iron saucepan. I thon fill up with rain water and boil till the liquor is of the colour and consistence of ink. This liquor alone is equal to much of the English ink, but in order to perfect it, I add copperas, gum and alum, in the proportion of one ounce copperas, one ounce gum, and quarter of an ounce alum, to one quart of the liquor. This recipe, however, may be improved upon. Tbe "Pall Mall Gazette " states that there is in New Grauada a plant, coriari ihy'folias which might be dangerous to our ink makers, if it could be acclimatised in Europe. It is known under the name of the ink plant. Its juice can be used in writing without any previous preparation. The letters traced with it are of a reddish colour at first, but turn to a deep black in a i'ew boars. This juice also spoils steel pens less than the common ink. The qualities of the plant seem to have b^en discovered under the Spanish administration. Some writings intended for the mother country were wet tl rough with sea-water on the voyage. While the papers written with common ink were almost illegible, those with the juice of that plant were quite unscathed. Orders were given in, consequence that this vegetable ink should be use for all public documents. Now the plant alluded to is neither more nor less than the tutu, which is only too abundant in this country. Henceforth there will be no excuse for faded writing in New Zealand."