46 



prepared soil in the months of May, June or July and 

 planted 1 to 2 feet apart, they are then about 20 cM. 

 high. They ai^e planted in irrigated soil, if possible. 



It also happens that the indigo is sown directly in 

 the prepared ground. 



§ 4. During the first few weeks after the planting 

 nothing is done but to substitute the languishing and 

 dying plants by fresh plants, then the soil must be turned 

 over and weeded from time to time until the plants have 

 quite matured, which is after about 5 to 6 months; they 

 are then about 3 or 3V2 feet. The blossoming is the sign 

 of maturity. 



The plants are also covered with clods of earth. 



§ 5. This is the moment for the first crop which, 

 three months later, is followed by the second harvest, 

 generally the largest. Three and sometimes four times the 

 cutting may be done. The cut-off leaves (or shoots) are tied 

 in bundles on the field and immediately transported to 

 the manufactory where, as much as possible in standing 

 position, the bundles are placed in fermentation-basins, 

 covering them with an horizontal layer of indigo-plants 

 of from 6 to 12 cM. thickness. 



Next, the basins are filled with water to about 

 6 cM. above the plants, these being kept immerged by 

 hurdles formed of laths of bamboo 1 centimetre apart; 

 these hurdles are pressed down by beams. The process of 

 fermentation soon commences and lasts from 4 to 5 hours. 



