95 



of the countries from which the import comes, and represent gold values. The 

 present quotations in New York are : Dutch, 8^ cents ; French, 9J to 10 cents' 

 in gold. 



It is stated that the demand for madder is less than formerly, in proportion 

 to the amount of manufacturing done, in consequence of the substitution of ana- 

 line dyes extracted from coal-oil or petroleum. And the price has been some- 

 what reduced at the same time. Twenty years ago the price was about ten 

 cents per pound. In 1864 the root Avas bought abroad, in gold, for eight cents 

 seven mills, and the prepared for seven cents Uvo mills per pound. In currency, 

 however, in our ports it must have commanded at that time little short of twenty 

 cents. The same fact must be taken into consideration, to some extent, in esti- 

 mates of probable prices and profits in the future. 



CLIMATE AND SOIL. 



A mild climate is essential to the best growth and highest development of its 

 peculiar properties ; yet it is cultivated throughout a wide range of climate — 

 on the East India coasts, the shores of the Mediterranean, and upon the north- 

 ern German coasts. All of our middle, southern, and western States afford a 

 climate suitable for the culture. 



The roots, which are long and crawling, ligneous, and divided into branches, 

 are yellowish in color and of an astringent taste. In light soils they are small 

 and of a red orange color when dried in the air. In soft, light, rich lands they 

 are grayish in color, but dusky red when powdered. In France the root is ex- 

 tensively cultivated, especially in the department of Vaucluse, where an exten- 

 sive area, formerly swamps, and lightly esteemed by the proprietors, has been 

 drained, and now commands a high price, and produces an excellent quality 

 of madder. These lands contain from fifty to sixty per cent, of chalk. Un- 

 drained or badly drained soils are entirely unsuitable to its growth ; and, there- 

 fore, heavy uplands, tenacious with a stiff clay, are found to be unprofitable for 

 such a crop. River bottoms, not clayey, and especially " second bottoms," which 

 contain a rich, light loam abounding in humus, are employed to advantage. 



CULTURE IN ZEALAND. 



In Zealand it is grown upon alluvial bottoms deposited by the sea, which 

 are highly alkaline and silicious, and produce a root of yellowish color. It is 

 propagated there by shoots or sets planted in May, in rows two feet apart. Clean 

 culture by weeding and covering in autumn is pursued, and the roots are taken 

 up and dried by means of stoves, and are a second time dried before being 

 ground. 



The yield in ^Zealand averages 2,350 pounds of powdered madder. The 

 winter being severe, the roots are oftentimes taken up at eighteen months' old. 

 The product is less in such case, but the risk and trouble of a second wintering 

 is avoided. 



CULTURE IN FRANCE. 



In the French department of Vaucluse it is grown from seed in a chalky 

 alluvian deposit, and is sown in beds five or six feet wide, with a space of eigh- 

 teen inches between the beds. In November of the first year, the young plants 

 are covered two or three inches with earth taken from between the beds. In 

 the second and third years the beds are carefully weeded, and the foliage cut 

 for forage when in flower. The roots are dug in August or September of the 

 third year, and simply cleaned if the earth is dry, but washed if so damp as to 

 adhere. In digging, the earth is loosened by a spade or fork, and the roots 

 are drawn, piled, dried in the open air, and packed in bales. 



