Ch. XXIX.] ON WOAD. 335 



WOAD 



was formerly largely grown in this country, as, until the introduction of 

 indigo into Europe, it was the only blue dye generally known. The supe- 

 riority of the latter, however, speedily gave it such a preference among 

 manufacturers, that the remonstrances of the farmers, who appealed to Go- 

 vernment against its use, under the term of " the devil's dye," were un- 

 availing, and the culture of the plant has since been only partially con- 

 tinued in some districts of England, and a few parts of Ireland; where, 

 though conducted in a slovenly manner, it is found very profitable. 



It is a native of the north, and the plant, which is very hardy, grows to 

 the height of about three feet, divided into slender branches, bearing pointed 

 leaves slightly tinged with blue, though the flowers, which spring at the 

 summit, are yellow ; it takes two years to come to perfection, and requires 

 a good loamy soil, though not partaking of marsh. It was formerly planted 

 for several years to the extent of 120 acres on the rich grass-land of the 

 fine farm of New Barns, belonging to Mr. Tattersall in the Isle of Ely ; and 

 land newly broken up is always found the most suitable *. The success 

 of the crop depends much on the hoeing and weeding, so as to keep the 

 ground fresh and clean ; for thus managed, three or four gatherings of the 

 leaves, from which the dye is obtained, will be produced in succession; but 

 the first two are the best, and the excellence of the dye consists in the suc- 

 culency of the leaf. In this country the common mode of culture, in 

 Yorkshire, Somersetshire, and Lincolnshire, in which counties it has been 

 chiefly cultivated, is as follows : — 



If sown on grass-land it should be ploughed early in February, to the 

 depth of about five inches, with three liorses in length, followed in the fur- 

 row by a man with a spade, so that if the turf be not turned over very flat 

 and well-joined, it may be laid completely so by hand. This attention is 

 necessary to prevent the grass rising in the seams ; then the land is often 

 harrowed to raise a depth of mould sufficient for the drill to work. Tlie seed 

 is put in about the middle of March, either in equidistant rows eight or 

 nine inches asunder, or it is sown broad-cast and harrowed in ; after which 



"The drying-house should be defended from wet, but opened to a free air: the roots 

 should be spread on hurdles, placed at a convenient distance fur that purpose, one over 

 the other. Here they must remain till they are diy enough to rub the dirt clean off, and 

 then they are to be removed to the co/d hitn. The kiln tor malt or hops will serve the 

 purpose, with the addition of a ventilator to preserve the colour. 



" On the first kiln they are to be dried with a gentle heat, being carefully turned till 

 they are dry enough to jart with their husks, which are to be thrashed off on a common 

 thrashing floor, clean swept, and then packed up separately. These sell at a much 

 chea; er rate than the inside madder — under the name of ''mull ;" but it usually pays 

 the expense of drying and cleaning. When the mull is thrashed off, the roots 

 must be dried a second time, with a stronger fire, but groat c:ire must be taken that 

 it be not too fierce, so as to discolour the madder, for on the brightness of the colour 

 depends the price. The last process is that of pounding and reducing to powder; but 

 that is an operation which rather depends upon the dealer than the farmer." 



* In '• Stevenson's Suney of Surrey,'' it is, however, said to be grown on the chalk 

 hills in the neighbourhood of Banstead Downs, "the soil best adapted for it being a 

 thin, and rather poor chalky loam; as it grows too strong on good land." — p. 383; and 

 in that of Kent it is stated, "to be much cultivated in the western part of the county, on 

 poor, stiff', and chalky lands." — 2nd edit., p, 1 14. Ail the other accounts, however, both 

 British and foreign, agree in describing tlie reqtiisite soil as a good fat loam. See the 

 Surveys of Lincolnshire, 2nd ed., p. 174; Cambridgeshire, p. 174 ; Billingsley's Somer- 

 setshire, 3rd ed., p. 113; Bath Papers, art. vii., vol. xii. ; and a treatise upon the 

 management drawn up by order of the French Government; which may be found in 

 the Appendix to Radclitf's Account of the Agriculture of East and West Flanders. 



