Scour and rinse the feathers well; natural grays may be used
unbleached. Prepare a decoction of one and one quarter pound cudbear,
and six ounces turmeric in two gallons of water, strain through a
cloth and enter the feathers at hand heat (about 90-100° F.); work them
for twenty or thirty minutes, or until they have attained a nourished
garnet color. Then take them out, rinse, lay them down for five minutes
in a cold solution of about six ounces copperas in one-half gallon
of water, take them up and rinse in cold water. Then return to the
first bath, operate for fifteen minutes at hand heat, enter again,
after rinsing, the iron bath, and continue alternately dyeing upon the
two baths until the required shade is obtained. Rinse every time on
shifting from one bath to the other, in clean water, and finally rinse
well, starch and dry.