226 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



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of less value ; nor must they be cut in dry weather, as they 

 would not spring again. A crop generally lasts two years. 

 Being cut, the herb is first steeped in a vat till it has become 

 macerated, and has parted with its coloring matter ; then the 

 liquor is let off into another, in which it undergoes the pe- 

 culiar process of beating, to cause the fecula to separate from 

 the water. The fecula is let off into a third vat, where it 

 remains some time, and is then strained through cloth bags, 

 and evaporated in shallow wooden boxes placed in the shade. 

 Before it is perfectly dry it is cut in small pieces of an inch 

 square ; and is then packed in barrels, or sowed up in sacks, 

 for sale." 



Indigo can only be raised to advantage in our most south- 

 ern States. The soil requires to be dry, finely pulverized, 

 and rich. The seed is sown early in April, in drills about 

 eighteen inches apart, and the weeds are kept down by the 

 hoe. It should be cut with the sickle or scythe, when the 

 lower leaves begin to turn, and just before the plant is going 

 into flower. This period occurs in this country, about the 

 middle of summer. A second crop may be taken the first of 

 autumn, and in hotter climates, even a third. 

 * The consumption of indigo in this country already amounts 

 to between two and three millions of dollars annually. 

 There are several varieties indigenous to the southern 

 States, and one or more in the northern, which yield inferior 

 dye. 



MADDER (Rubia tinctorum, Fig. 49). 



The root of this plant is used for several dyes, but principal- 

 ly for the rich madder red ; and it has 

 been recently an object of attention 

 in the United States. The intro- 

 duction of this, with numerous other 

 articles consequent upon the ex- 

 tended growth of our manufactures, 

 shows the intimate and mutually 

 beneficial effects of associating the 

 two leading industrial occupations 

 of agriculture and manufactures. 

 Thp principal cause which has pre- 

 vented its cultivation among us thus 

 far, has been the long time required 

 for maturing a crop. I subjoin 

 a description of its culture from Mr 

 Bateham. 



