FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 185 



INDIGO. Three species of this plant are cultivated ; the 

 Wild (Indigofera argentea) the Gautimala ( ' disfiermea ) 

 and the French (tinctoria ) The first-mentioned is the 

 hardiest plant, and affords the best blue; but one of the 

 other two species is commonly prefered, as being more 

 productive ; and of these, the French surpasses the Guati- 

 mala in quantity, but yields to it in fineness of grain, and 

 beauty of color. 



Indigo is a tap-rooted plant, will endure severe drought, 

 and is unsuitable for wet lands. In the Westindies, it may 

 be raised in poor dry soils ; but to most advantage in those 

 which are rich. In the Southern States, however, it re- 

 quires a good soil. The more southerly parts of our terri- 

 tory are tolerably well adapted for the culture of this plant ; 

 but it is more productive farther to the South, particularly 

 in many of the Westindia Islands, where it is indigenous. 

 A bushel of the seed of this plajit is sufficient for five 

 acres. 



The ground is first to be properly mellowed with the 

 plough, and then harrowed, when the seeds may be sown 

 with a dril], in rows, at the distance of about twelve or 

 fourteen inches apart, in a manner very similar to that 

 which is directed for the culture of onions, 

 See ONION, 



And the intervals between the rows are to be kept clear 

 of weeds, until such time as their further growth will be 

 prevented by the growing crop covering the ground. 



It is to be sown as early in the Spring as the ground can 

 be properly prepared ; and, when the plants are in full 

 blossom, they are to be cut off a few inches from the 

 ground ; when a new growth will come to maturity for cut- 

 ing, as before directed, which, in this Country, is all that 

 can be expected as the product of a season. 



In the Westindies, the plants are cut three, and some- 

 times four, times in a season ; but each succeeding cuting 

 is much less in product than that preceding it. The culture 

 of the crop is to be renewed every Spring, and a sufficiency 

 of the first growth is to be left standing for a supply of 

 fresh seed. 



After each cuting, the next process is the manufacture 

 of the indigo, which would seem to be much the most diffi- 

 cult operation. 



We shall not describe the method formerly pursued for 

 obtaining the pulp, of which the indigo is composed, from 

 the plants; as the frequent failures in this part of the busi- 

 ness, together with the mortality occasioned by the miasma 

 produced by the operation, have greatly discouraged many 

 frpm embarking in the culture and manufacture of indigo; 



