Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-29
Daily Aenuebrt gournal.
ORCHILLA.

Persons not deep in the mysteries of drugs
and dyes are puzzled over the word orchilla
which now meet their eyes occasionally II
newspaper paragraphs. Orchilla of very
fine quality has been discovered in Lower Cal
ifornia. An expedition is fitting out at this por
to gather orchilla in its newly-found South
western home. What is orchilla, that Cali
fornia papers should crow over ITS existence
in that long peninsular that pokes out from
the southern boundary of their State, and
why should anybody think it good specula-
ton to ship 300 men, women and children
from New York, passage free, to go out there
and gather it ? We will answer these questions.
OrchilIa weed orchella, orchal erchil-for by
these divers names it is known-is a moss
or lichen, which yields beautiful, yiolet-red-
dish dye. 1t is used to some extent for coll
oring silks and woolens, and has only the
fault, but serious one, that it lacks perma-
hence. Notwithstanding that defect, it is
still an article in request among dyers, and,
its production hitherto being limited, com
mands good prices. Its principal sources of
supply for Europe are the Canary and Cape
de Verde Islands, Darbary and the Levant
to these have been recently added Ecuador,
Peru and the Galapagos Islands. Those who
glance over the instructive tables of imports
that we publish weekly, must have observed
it now and then appearing among the items
along with annatto, argols, div diyi, gar
ancine, meliothc, satflower, and other herbs,
roots, woods or gums of outlandish name.
Last year this country imported $4,000 worth
of orchil1a weed, and 81, 1000 worth of or
chilla liquor or tincture It's value in Eng
land, which is the principal market, varies
greatly from time to time. In seasons of
scarcity it has been as high as Fl 900 per ton,
but is now quoted at 26s.a66s. per cwt., ac-
cordinR to quality. 1t grows on bushes and
stones near the sea, and in some regions so
abundantly that quarter ola ton may be
picked by one person in a day-a profitable
business If it could be kept up, at present
prices. OF the profusion and the quality of
orchilla in Lower California we avouch moth
ing from our own knowledge; but it is prop
ably not inferior to the Old World article,
since that from Ecquador on the Pacific coast
is said to be fully equal, if not superior, to its
European and African competitors. Still less
would we like to commit ourselves to an en-
dorsement of the novel enterprise Of shipping
colonies from New York to hunt for this valua-
bic moss in Lower California. They go out, we
understand, at the expense ola Guayaquil house
which makes specially of the orchilla trade,
though they are under the patronage of the
Lower California company, which has an in
terest in populating the peninsula. Not hay
ing been fortunate as yet in inducing emigra-
ton to that region, the company may think
themselves lucky if orchilla, at fabulous prices
per ton, should attract settlers there. On
this point we have nothing to say, except to
quote the assurances of California papers that
it abounds along coast, that it is not uniform
in quality, and that experience and skill are
necessary in gathering it to obtain the better
and only salable kinds. incidentally, we may
mention that the increased consumption of
orchilla in Europe as substitute for cochineal
is said to have affected the value of the latter
production. A subsidiary use of orchilla is
in its alcoholic infusion as the red liquid in
spirit thermometers. " y. Journal Of Com
MeTee.