BRAZIL′-WOOD

(-zēle′-). Syn. Brazil‡ ; Lig′num brazilien′se , L.; Bois de Brésil , Fr. A dye-stuff furnished by several species of trees of the genus cæsalp in′ia , and much used in dyeing various shades of red. The usual practice is to boil it for some hours in hard spring-water, and to keep the resulting decoction for some time, or until it undergoes a species of fermentation; as it is thus found to yield more permanent and beautiful colours than when employed fresh. The following are examples of its application:— a. For Cotton :— 1. The goods are first boiled in a bath of sumach, next worked through a weak mordant of solution of tin, and then run through the Brazil bath lukewarm. This gives a bright red. 2. The goods are alumed, rinsed, next mordanted with solution of tin, rinsed again, and then turned through the Brazil dye bath. This gives a rose colour. b. For Linen :—This, for the most part, is similar to that adopted for cotton. c. For Silk :—The goods, after being alumed in the same way as wool, but at a lower temperature, are rinsed, and pa ed through the Brazil-wood bath lukewarm. d. For Wool :—The goods are first steeped or boiled in a weak mordant of alum and tartar, for 1 hour, and then allowed to lie in the cold liquor for 2 or 3 days, with frequent moving about; they are lastly boiled in the Brazil-wood bath for about 1 ⁄ 2 an hour. Obs. The shades of colour given with Brazil-wood may be modified by varying the strength of the bath, the mordant, . The addition of a little alum turns it on the purple. A little alkali added to the bath, or pa ing the goods, after being dyed, through water holding a little alkali in solution, produces what is called false crimson. A deep crimson is obtained by adding a little logwood to the Brazil-wood bath. 1 lb. of Brazil-wood, 1 ⁄ 2 oz. of alum, and 2 oz. of tartar, are sufficient to dye from 20 to 28 lbs. of cotton, according to the depth of shade required. See Dyeing , Red Dyes , .