101 



The following extract from a note just received from Mr. M. B. Batebam, of 

 Columbus, Obio, formerly editor of tbe Ohio Cultivator, corroborates the views 

 I have formed upon tbis subject : 



"I believe tbe business bas been entirely discontinued in Obio, and I bave no 

 knowledge of its being practiced in any otber State. Tbe reasons for tbis are not 

 from any lack of adaptedness of soil or climate, but simply because tbe business 

 requires much labor, wbicb must be done by band, and can only be carried on to 

 advantage near large towns, wbere Germans or otber cbeap laborers can be readily 

 obtained at special times wben Avanted. Tbis was tbe cause of tbe abandon- 

 ment of tbe business by Mr. Swift and otbcrs wbo bave tried it in Ohio. My 

 own experiment, near Columbus, was on soil found unsuited to tbe purpose. It 

 was too ricb and clayey, (alluvial river bottom.) Good sandy alluvial is found 

 v/ell adapted to tbis crop. For tbe past few years tbe price of labor bas been 

 too bigb to encourage any one to engage in madder-growing." 



Regretting tbat I am unable to give a more flattering view of tbe profit of 

 madder culture in tbis country, I bave tbe bonor to be, yours respectfully, 



ISAAC NEWTON, Co7nmisskmcr. 



Hon. JoHi\ Sherman, 



Chairman of Senate Covunhtee on Agriculture. 



