Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/173

 Signor Settalla at Milan causeth to be made a Burning-glass of seven Foot in Diameter. He pretends to make it Burne at the distance of fifty Palmes (which is about 33 Foot.)

T is generally believed, that the Cochineel comes out of a fruit called the Prickle-pear, bearing a leafe of a slimy nature, and a fruit blond-red and full of Seeds, which give a Dye almost like to Brasiletto wood, that will perish in a few dayes by the Fire: But the Insect engendered of this fruit or leaves, gives a permanent Tincture, as is generally known.

There grows a Berry (by report) both in the Bermudas and New-England, call'd the Summer-Island-Redweed, which Berry is as red as the Prickle-Peare, giving much the like tincture; out of which Berry come out first; Worms, which afterward turn into Flyes somewhat bigger then the Cochineel-Flye, feeding on the same Berry: In which we read, there hath been found a colour no whit inferior to that of the Cochineel-Flye, and as to Medicinal vertue much exceeding it.

'Tis hereupon offer'd to consideration and tryal, 1. Whether this Bermuda-Berry might not grow in England? 2. Whether out of the Berry of Brasiletto-wood the like insect might not be obtained in respect of colour or tincture? 3. Whether a fading colour, yielded by certain Vegetables, might not be fixed by causing such a Fermentation in the Concrete, as may engender Insects giving the tincture of its original, which will hold in Grain?

For the obtaining of the last we find the following directions. Whereas Vegetables of Tincture are either Herbs, or Woods, or Berries and other Fruits; to breed Insects out of Herbes, dry them, (for so they yield the best tincture;) otherwise stamp them, and let them dry, till they will suffer no more juyce to run from them, (this in the Sun or in a proportionable heat:) or Rh