Balm blossoms, steeped in water, color a pretty rose-color. This
answers very well for the linings of children's bonnets, for ribbons,
&c. It fades in the course of one season; but it is very little
trouble to recolor with it. It merely requires to be steeped and
strained. Perhaps a small piece of alum might serve to set the color,
in some degree. In earthen or tin.

Saffron, steeped in earthen and strained, colors a fine straw color.
It makes a delicate or deep shade according to the strength of the
tea. The dry outside skins of onions, steeped in scalding water and
strained, color a yellow very much like 'bird of paradise' color.
Peach leaves, or bark scraped from the barberry bush, colors a common
bright yellow. In all these cases, a little piece of alum does no
harm, and may help to fix the color. Ribbons, gauze handkerchiefs, &c.
are colored well in this way, especially if they be stiffened by a bit
of gum-Arabic, dropped in while the stuff is steeping.

The purple paper, which comes on loaf sugar, boiled in cider, or
vinegar, with a small bit of alum, makes a fine purple slate color.
Done in iron.

White maple bark makes a good light-brown slate color. This should
be boiled in water, set with alum. The color is reckoned better when
boiled in brass, instead of iron.

The purple slate and the brown slate are suitable colors for
stockings; and it is an economical plan, after they have been mended
and cut down, so that they will no longer look decent, to color old
stockings, and make them up for children.