Weld, or WOOLD

Weld, or WOOLD, also called Dyer's Rocket, Dyer's Weed, and Yellow Weed (Reseda Luteola), is a plant of the same genus with Mignonette (q.v.), a native of waste places in England, very common in Germany and in many parts of Europe. It has an upright stem two to three feet high; lanceolate, undivided leaves; and long racemes of small yellow flowers, with four-partite calyx and prominent stamens. It was formerly much used for dyeing, but has been largely superseded by other dyes (see DYEING). The best is grown in France, England, and Holland. Good weld must have flowers of a beautiful yellow or greenish colour, and should abound in leaves; that which is small, thin-stemmed, and yellow is better than that which is large, thick-stemmed, and green.