AN OLD INDUSTRY. 655 



a fortniglit, and grew rapidly, requiring nice and frequent hoeing 

 and weeding. The plants were usually cut three or four times in 

 the season. Whenever the plant was in full bloom it required to 

 be cut down without regard to height, as the leaves were then 

 thick and full of juice. 



The plants were cut with a reaping hook and carried to the 

 macerating vat, also called the " steeper." This, as well as a sec- 

 ond vat called the " beater," was " made of the best cypress or 

 yellow-pine planks, well fastened to the joints and studs by spikes 

 and then calked." 



When the steeper was furnished with a sufficient quantity of 

 weed, clean water was poured in, and the weeds were left to steep 

 or macerate until all the coloring matter was extracted. The 

 weed was laid regularly in the steeper with the stalk upward, and 

 upon it long rods were fastened lengthwise in the vat to prevent 

 its buoying up when the water was pumped in. Soft water was 

 needed for the purpose, and the quantity must be just enough to 

 cover all the weed. This process of " steeping " or fermentation 

 usually took from twelve to fifteen hours. 



The fluid was then drawn off into the beater, where it was agi- 

 tated violently until all the coloring matter was united in a body. 

 The usual contrivance for this purpose consisted of an axle, to 

 which were attached long arms, each furnished with a small 

 bucket at the end. The laborer would place himself upon the 

 vat, and work the axle with a handle or crank, causing the buck- 

 ets to rise and fall rapidly in the liquid. This process of " beat- 

 ing" required great nicety, for if not continued long enough a 

 part of the tingeing matter remained in the water ; if continued 

 too long, a part of tliat which had separated was dissolved afresh. 



Du Bose tells us : "I can well remember how often in the pro- 

 cess the liquor was taken up in a plate and anxiously examined 

 in the rays of the sun to ascertain whether all the particles of dye 

 were separated ; for if not, the result would be a failure ; the 

 bright true-blue color would not be obtained, and the value of the 

 drug would be impaired." 



Lime was then applied, which assisted in the separation of the 

 water from the indigo. The whole was allowed to rest eight or 

 ten hours, until the blue matter had thoroughly settled. The 

 clean water was then drawn off by cocks in the sides, at different 

 heights, and the blue part was discharged by a cock in the bottom 

 into another vat. It was strained through a horsehair sieve, and 

 afterward put into bags "made of osnaburgs, eighteen inches 

 long and twelve inches wide," and suspended for six hours to 

 drain. After this, the mouths of the bags being well fastened, they 

 were put into a press to complete the removal of the water. 



The indigo had now become a fine stiff paste which was cut 



