Value      Quantity
L          cwts.
1848      1,359          —­
1849      2,035          —­
1850      1,766        5,206
1851        259          776
1852        770        2,396

CHAY-ROOT.—­There is a plant called chay, the Oldenlandia umbellata, which is extensively cultivated as a dye plant in the East, especially on the coasts of Coromandel, Nellore, Masulipatam, Malabar, and other parts of India.  The outer bark of the roots furnishes the coloring matter for the durable red for which the chintzes of India are famous.  Chay-root forms a considerable article of export from Ceylon.  The wild plant there is considered preferable; the roots, which are shorter, yielding one-fourth part more coloring matter, and the right to dig it is farmed out.  It grows spontaneously on light, dry, sandy ground on the sea coast; the cultivated roots are slender, with a few lateral fibres, and from one to two feet long.  The dye is said to have been tried in Europe, but not with very advantageous effect.  Dr. Bancroft suspects it may be injured by the long voyage, but he adds that it cannot produce any effect which may not be more cheaply obtained from madder.

This red dye, similar to Munjeet, is used to a great extent in the southern parts of Hindostan by the native dyers.

It is not held in very good estimation in Europe but seems to deserve a better reputation than it at present possesses.  Attention was drawn to it as a dye-stuff in 1798, by a special minute of the Board of Trade recommending its importation; but Dr. Bancroft, who made some experiments with a sample of damaged chay-root, considered it inferior to madder and hence discouraged its further importation.

The bark and root of various species of Morinda (M. citrifolia and tinctoria) are used in different parts of the East Indies, and considered a very valuable red dye.  The colors dyed with it are for the most part exceedingly brilliant, and the coloring matter is far more permanent than many other red colors are, with improved management it would probably rival that of madder, and is, therefore, worthy more attention from dyers.

MANGROVE BARK (Rhizophora mangle), is used to dye a chocolate color in the East and West Indies.  This was one of the colors introduced by Dr. Bancroft, and for the exclusive use of which he obtained an Act of Parliament.  It is procured in plenty at Arracan, Malabar, and Singapore in the East.

SHUMAC or SUMACH, sometimes called young fustic, is the powder of the leaves, peduncles, and young branches of a small deciduous plant (Rhus coriaria), native of the South of Europe, but which is also grown in Syria and Palestine, for its powerful astringent properties, which renders it valuable for tanning light-colored leather, and it imparts a beautiful bright yellow dye to cottons, which is rendered permanent by proper mordants.  It is principally imported from the Ionian Islands and the Morea.  The species