3C8 * on dyer's weed. April 25. 



soils it grows naturally small and fine in the stalk, and 

 tjjese weakly plants are found to afford the finest dye. 

 In richer soils, however, in which it would naturally 

 attain to a larger size, it is easy to give it the same dwarfifh 

 itature, and the qualities that adhere to it, by the simple 

 .contrivance of sowing the seeds pretty thick j so that ia 

 every situation it may be reared. Even in deep moist soils, 

 which are not naturally well adapted to the growth of weld, 

 it may Le reared on the banks of hedges where scarcely 

 any other plant could be made to thrive. 



This plant, if sown early in the spring, is an annual, as 

 in that case it flowers and perfects its seeds that same 

 f eason \ but if it be sown after midsummer, or in a situ- 

 ation that prevents it from vegetating freely at first, it is 

 like turtles, and many other plants, biennial, in that 

 case remaining green throughout the winter, and flowering, 

 and perfecting its seeds in the ensuing summer. 



To have an annual crop, sow the seeds in the month of 

 Alarch, upon any waste corner you may find convenient j all 

 that is absolutely required for insuring a cron is that the 

 5oil be free from root-weeds. If the ground be light, sandy, 

 or poor, the seeds fliould not be sown very thick, otherwise 

 the plants will not attain a proper size j but if it be a rich 

 field, the seeds fhouldvbe sown pretty thick, in order to- 

 \>revent them from attaining too large a size. When they 

 appear, the annual weeds fhould be pulled out by the hand^. 

 The plant will flower in the end of May or June, and per_ 

 feet its seeds in July. 



When the seeds in the lowest pods begin to harden, and 

 the whole plant to afsume a yellowifli cast, it is time to ga- 

 ther the crop. As the whole of the plant, root, stalk, and 

 leaves are employed in dying, it ought to be pulled up by 

 the roots when ready, in the same manner as is practised 

 with regard to flax. It nay be tied up in single |jandfuls> 



