302 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



covered with dirt, as in the case with peanuts, and from two to 

 three years are required to mature a crop. When dug it is dried 

 twice, ground in a mill, and exported; or an extract, called guran- 

 cine, which is a powder, is prepared. The yield is from 800 to 

 2,000 pounds an acre, and it is generally worth about 12^ cents a 

 pound — sometimes it is much less. 



Manufacturers long have urged its cultivation in this country. 

 About twenty-five years ago several parties in Ohio grew it largely, 

 but they found they could not compete with foreign labor, and 

 they abandoned it. At present not a pound of American madder 

 is reported in the New- York market. The general impression is> 

 that our summers are not long enough. There are other difficul- 

 ties. The choicest land is required; such land is full as profitable 

 for broom corn, or even for potatoes. In addition, several years 

 are required fully to learn how best to manage it — -as is the case 

 with all new crops, and to provide proper implements, mills and 

 fixtures. 



There is not the least doubt but there are many parts of our 

 country where madder will grow well, as on the Illinois prairies, 

 where sand gives the soil a reddish tinge, and also on all the 

 secondary bottoms of the Mississippi country, comprising a vast 

 area. Perhaps no soil or climate will better suit this plant than 

 Kansas south of the Kaw river. On those upland prairies where 

 the soil, two feet deep at least, undoubtedly is composed of decayed 

 lime stone, this root must flourish better than in any other coun- 

 try on the globe. And yet, with this great opportunity, our peo- 

 ple are tied hand and foot. 



There is no duty on madder — it is on the free list. An Ameri- 

 can farmer, in growing madder, has a competitor whose wages is 

 less than twenty-five cents a day; on this he has to board himseli 

 and to provide for his family. His dinner is a piece of black 

 bread rubbed with an onion. Meat, tea, coffee, butter, poultry, 

 seldom come to his table. Not for a moment will our farmers 

 think of engaging in any industry which will place them on a level 

 with European ^rfs. We have as much of this kind of business 

 on hand already as we can manage. Our iron men struggle with 

 the illiterate, sorrowful workmen of Wales; our manufacturers 

 strive to make headway by paying a dollar a day for work which 

 in England costs fifty cents, and our wool-growers, with high priced 

 land, and with families needing education, clothing and good 



