Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/493

455&#93; YEL quick-lime to be mixed with 2 parts of a saturated solution of fixed alkali in water : the result is a highly caustic, milky fluid j which, when poured into the holes fre- quented by earth-worms, and other YEL [455 vermin, instantly kills them, — ^I'his liquor may also be advantageously sprinkled ou trees infested by ca- terpillars and other insedts, which are thus expeditiously destroyed, without injuring vegetation. Y. YELLOW. —The Shaggy Spunk, or Boletus Idrsutus, a spe- cies of Mushroom, has lately been recommended to public attention by M. Lasteyrie, who has ex- tra£ted from it a lively and durable yellow dye. This vegetable grows chiefly on walnut and apple-trees : it is replete with colouring matter, that may be expressed by pounding the mushroom in a mortar ; after which the liquor, thus obtained, is boiled for about a quarter of an hour. An ounce of the fluid is sufficient to impart tinging matter to 61bs, of water. When the liquor has been strained, the silk, cotton, &c. intended for dyeing, must be immersed in it, and boiled for about 15 minutes. k M. Lasteyrie observes, that every kind of stutF retains this co- lour } though it will be most bril- liant on silk ; being less bright oa linen and cotton. He adds, that if the former, after being dyed, be passed through soft soap-water, it will acquire a bright golden-yellow tinge, equal in point of lustre to that of the silk used for imitating embroidery in gold ; and which has Iiithertobeen imported into Europe from China, at a great expence. Lastly, the yellow extrafted from this plant, may be usefully employed for painting both in water-colour« and in oil. The increase-of Plt)htations, in soils properly adapted for the purpose, being an obje6t of national importance, we have subjoined a Table j the design of which is, to shew the number of plants that may be set oa an acre of land, both according to the Scotch and English admeasure* ment, at the distance of from one foot to 30 feet from each other. — - Thus, the scale from 1 foot to 3 feet gives the number of cabbages, which may be planted on an acre, for the feeding of cattle ; while the distance from 3 to 6 feet, determines the amount of young forest or timber-trees, that may be arranged on a similar extent of ground ; the space of from 6 to 20 ieci, shews those remaining after the first, second, or third cuttings ; and the interval from 20 to 30 feet, points out the fruit-trees, w^hich may be planted on one acre. Another object, v/hich may tend to render the following Table more ijxteresting to the planter, is that of ascertaining the difference betweea Gg4 tl;e