in one case and over-fermentation in the other,
accidents to which woad was always liable, especially
when prepared, as it was in ancient times, from the
fresh leaves, in different stages of growth, and at
one period of the year, when the weather was warm
and changeable.[1]
We can see in this story how a fable of a miracle grew up. The circumstance certainly may have happened, and it was afterwards attributed to the saintly boy being turned out of doors, and ill-wishing the dye-vat.
Before the introduction of indigo, woad was specially cultivated in Europe, but after the former was brought in, the woad was no longer raised. At first, indeed, indigo and woad were employed together in dyeing; then came the plan of using certain chemicals in place of woad, which injured the wool and destroyed the quality of cloths ; so that in Thuringia orders were issued by the Government prohibiting the employment of indigo.
There is plenty of material for dyeing to be found in Meneage. The moss Hypnuni cupressifonnuni is still employed in the county of Mayo for the purpose of giving wool for stockings a reddish brown colour mottled with white. The white woollen yarn to be dyed is made into skeins; these are tied at intervals by very tight ligatures of linen thread, and then put into the dye vat. The binds prevent the dye from penetrating into that portion of the wool compressed by them, and
- ↑ Sullivan, Introduction to O'Curry's Lectures on the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, 1873, i. p. cliv.
