I. For this color, which has in itself a subdued tone of brown, or has
the color of gray ostrich feathers, such naturally colored feathers may
be used unbleached, but well cleaned and rinsed before dyeing. Prepare
a luke-warm bath, to which add about one-half ounce tartaric acid to
per quart of water and solution of methyl violet 6 B., according to
shade, with a little aniline ponceau or fast brown for toning. While
working the feathers, raise the temperature and continue dyeing at
nearly boiling for one-half hour; then take out, wash and dry.
Or,
II. Prepare a boiling hot bath with alum, sulphuric acid and tartar; to
which add acid fuchsine; enter the feathers, and dye one-half hour to a
blue red, which tone, by the addition of decoction of logwood, continue
at nearly boiling heat for one-half hour longer, lift, rinse lightly,
starch, beat and dry.
III. Take a hot bath, upon which violet has been dyed, and refresh it
with some solution of methyl violet, 5 B., and a few drops of sulphuric
acid, or prepare a hot bath with the same ingredients, and indigo
carmine, according to shade; or, instead of indigo carmine, indigo
substitute, fast blue B. A., and indigotine; preferably, however, use
indigo carmine, which develops more slowly, and therefore is surer to
give better results, while the aniline dyestuffs run up more rapidly,
and are apt to dye unevenly, unless their solutions are added gradually
and the feathers handled quickly and carefully.