260 Cultivation of Arable Land. Wood Preparation of. 



Much advantage has been found in the goodnefs of the v:oad, from the drying 

 and fVoring of it being performed in a careful manner. When this attention is 

 neglected, the woad will not, on being broken between the finger and thumb,draw out 

 into fine hair-like filaments, or, in the language of the manufacturer, heaver well ; 

 as theufe of thisfubftance, in the blue vat of the dyer, is not merely to afford the 

 colour of the plant, but, by bringing on a very gentle fermentation, excite the 

 indigo in the fame vat to yield its colouring principle more perfectly. This is 

 even neccflary for its own colouring matter being fully imparted. The fubftance 

 fhould therefore be fo prepared in the different operations as to produce this effect in 

 the moft certain and perfect manner. When the heat in the procefs of couching has 

 gene too far, the fubftance will be what is termed foxy ; and when it has not pro 

 ceeded to a fufficient degree, it will be what is called heavy. If the material be good, 

 it does not foil the fingers on being rubbed between them; but fuch as is heavy 

 does. In the concluiion of the procefs, the cooling is effected in fo gradual 

 a manner as to render it not fit for taking on the fame procefs; and ofcourfe 

 proper for being preferved in calks, or in any other way. It is then ready for 

 life.* 



This is a fort of crop that appears befl adapted to the rich fertile lands that are on 

 thefe accounts, on being firil broken up, unfit for oats orany other fort of grain-crop, 

 as it may in thefe cafes be had recourfe to for a year or two, when they will be in 

 a proper clean Mate for grain ; as, from its not returning any thing to the land, it 

 muft of neceffity be in fome meafure an exhaufting crop : but it does it in a 

 more moderate way than many other forts of deteriorating crops ; and at the fame 

 time, from the nature of its culture, leaves the land in a more clean and perfect 

 condition for the growth of other crops. 



The ingenious cultivator mentioned above has introduced this plant as a regu 

 larly returning crop in the rotation of woad for two, three, or four years; then 

 oats for one or two years ; after that cole, then oats again j the land being then 

 laid down to grafs, with white clover, ribgrafs, a flight portion of trefoil, the belt 

 hay-feeds, fomeparflcy, and a little ray-grafs. Land left in this way, if conftantly 

 fed down with (beep and a few neat cattle, it is fuppofed, would be in a condition 

 to be planted again with woad in the courfe offeven or eight years.-jr 



But as the demands for this article are in fome degree confined, it is not a fort 

 of culture that can be extended in an unlimited manner. Belides, as there is 

 much rifk and anxiety attending the cultivation and preparation of fuch forts of 



* Young s Corrected Agricultural Report of Lincolnshire. + Ibid. 



I 



