256 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



There are several theories as to the function of the chalk, or carbonate of lime; by some, 

 it is supposed to act by saturating an acid present; by others, it is thought that the combi- 

 nation of two different bases with the coloring matter gives much more solidity to the dye, 

 in consequence probably of a greater insolubility in the compound formed. Experiments 

 made in Germany seem to prove that in all instances of madder-dyeing under the influence 

 of chalk, a certain amount of lime becomes added to the aluminous mordant, and in a subse- 

 quent eli aring with a soap-bath some of the alumina is removed, and there remains upon 

 the fibre of the cloth the two earths — lime and alumina, in atomic proportions, or nearly 

 si.. The madders subjected to analysis wire American, Avignon, and Turkey. The American 

 was grown in Montague, Massachusetts, on the farm of Martin II. Clapp, and the roots used 

 were of four years' growth. The land upon which it was grown is the "interval" lying 

 near the Connecticut River; it was treated with twenty loads of strong green manure, and one 

 hundred pounds of plaster to the acre; Indian corn was grown upon it the year previous to 

 planting with madder. The next year the manure and plaster were applied as before, and 

 the madder-roots planted. The crop was cultivated the last three years in the same manner 

 as potatoes, with the addition of one shovelful of well-rotted manure and a little plaster to 

 each hill, late in the autumn of each year. The different samples were burned in a niuffle, 

 without regard to the percentage amount of ash which each variety yielded. 



The different ashes were found to consist of — 



American. French. Turkey. 



Chloride of sodium 2'61 3*76 4-71 



Carbonate of potassa 7-45 I'll) 5-50 



Carbonate of soda 39-28 9-78 2271 



Silica 8-48 25-86 27-71 



I' phateoflime 12-75 19-75 17-85 



Carbonate of lime 23-39 32-76 18-35 



Carbonate of magnesia 6-05 (?) 3-14 



Alumina — 3 - 66 (?) 



99-96 99-97 99-97 



The American madder, when treated with from four to six per cent, of chalk, gives colors 

 evei v way -upcrior to the best French. The "pinks" and "roses" stand the process d'Avi- 

 sage, furnishing colors which are more "pink" and "rosy" than the French: it also furnishes 

 a purple of a much more desirable shade than that obtained from the French. Used in equal 

 weights, the American gives deeper colors than the French, showing a greater percentage of 

 coloring matter. The ground French madder, as imported, will, if* treated with an addi- 

 tional amount of carbonate of lime, furnish colors which are inferior to those produced by the 

 same article without this addition. 



The French madder will, if treated with a dilute aeid, effervesce strongly. This cfl'er- 

 ience will not take place by treating any other of the ground woods or plants used in 

 dyeing in the -ami' way, ami seems to indicate the presence of a free carbonate. The Dutch 

 madden have always needed an addition of carbonate of lime to produce brilliant and "fast" 

 colon, bn< within a few yean Dutch madden have bees imported, ground on the French pro- 

 cess. These do not need any addition of carbonate of lime. The Dutch madders, as formerly 

 imported, will not effervesce when treated with B dilute acid. The new "Dutch roots 

 ground on the French process," when treated in the same manner, show evident signs of the 

 presence of a carbonate. 



li v.. nil Been SI if all that is needed to obtain as good a reputation for the American 

 madden at any in the world, is to bare them ground on the French process, which, from the 

 deportment of the different varieties of madder when treated with carbonate of lime, would 

 lead to the supposition thai then- is ■ oertain amount of carbonate of lime added to the I 

 I nob roots during the process of grinding. 



Thin- -I' in- to be s fair Inducement for the farmers and growers of New Englan d to culti- 

 madder; for although Mr. Clapp labored under many diaadraasagei, aneh as building 



and procuring an entire nl of apparatus, drying kiln-, fee., and Obt a i ning but about one- 

 third of S Crop from his land as compared witli the crops raised in WoatKB New York, still 

 he lost only the interest on the land cultivated. 



