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If you take equal parts of the blew Pim∣pinel roots, and of the Herb Sun-dew, and mix them together, and then put them into Spirit of Wine, there will flow from them, distilled by an Alimbeck, a Liquor of a most pleasant Sea-green colour, the blew∣ishness
being refracted or broke by the na∣tive redness of the Ros Solis, or Sun-dew.
Caution 1. No waterish Liquor will extract the Saphirine colour of these Roots, but it ought to be a Spirituous Liquor; but the best way of all is, with Oleaginous Li∣quors, by reason of the resemblance be∣twixt them, and the Rosinous juice of the Roots. This is further to be added, if you pour Oyl of Citrons upon them, they will presently after a little stay let fall their blew Colour.
Secondly, The distillation in these Ope∣rations is not to be too gentle, for then the Liquor will be white, but a little brisk, and swift; so at first the Liquor will be of a blewish white, but the latter will ap∣pear of a perfect Saphirine colour.
Thirdly, This Blew colour (as you may observe in the two former Experiments) is not so very lasting, but that after three or four Months it will degenerate into yel∣lowness by degrees, but it will endure the longer if it be kept out of the rayes of the Sun, and in a cool place.
Fourthly, These Roots ought to be ga∣thered in the Spring, Summer, or Autumn, and to be kept all the Wint••r: for the dryed Roots, as well as the fresh, are fit to
produce this Phaenomenon, or appearance: although by very long keeping the Blew juice is dissipated, and after the manner of other Roots they become useless.
Fifthly, Sometimes we steep the very fresh gathered Roots, only in Oyl of Tur∣pentine, and have observed that the day following a Sea green, not a Blew colour to arise: And although we afterwards added a triple proportion of Water, and by fits shook it strongly, yet the Oyl which swam at the top, remained of a Sea colour.