CROPS. 



551 



case they must not be disturbed ; they must then be kept clean, 

 but not dug. Holes may be made for setting the plants, either 

 with a hoe or a spade ; they must be taken from the nursery- 

 bed, and immediately set out, and not allowed to get dry or 

 withered in the air j they may be dipped in water when trans 

 planted, and great care must be taken to prevent their being 

 injured, and to place them fairly in the ground, bringing the 

 earth and pressing it carefully down around them. Liquid 

 manure may be applied with great advantage in the intervals 

 between the beds. After the planting, it is well to water the 

 plants ; and they are to be kept clean, and the intervals kept 

 loose by a narrow hoe or spade : the sprouts thrown out at the 

 sides of the main stem may be bent down and covered with 

 earth, so as to force the growth of the root. In the autumn the 

 plants should have a slight covering of strawy manure. 



The madder which is not taken up until the third year pro 

 duces much more, and of a better quality, than that which is 

 gathered the second year ; but the increased expense and rent of 

 the land are seldom compensated by the increased product. 



The harvesting is a work of much labor. The roots, which, 

 in a well-prepared soil, extend to a great depth, must be taken up 

 with much care, and without injury. Sometimes a plough is 

 passed along the line, and then the work is finished by the spade, 

 but generally it is wholly done by the spade ; the intervals 

 between the beds being dug out to the depth of two feet, and 

 the plants carefully displaced and taken out by means of forks 

 or narrow hoes. The plants lie upon the ground three or four 

 days, in small heaps, in order to become dry, and in case of rain 

 are covered with straw. They are then carefully housed, and 

 afterwards dried in a kiln for the market. The excellent condi 

 tion in which, under such cultivation, the land is left for other 

 crops, is a considerable indemnity for the expense and trouble 

 bestowed upon the crop of madder. The rich polders, or re 

 deemed meadows, both in Holland and Flanders, are favorite 

 spots for the cultivation of this crop. 



11. WOAD.* This plant grows wild in. various places, but is 

 cultivated for its blue dye. Where indigo is not attainable, it 



* Isatis Tindoria. 



