MADDER. 



37;) 



expressly putting out or withholding the lights that might serve to disclose, and 

 perchance to remedy some of them ! 



Where was the vigilant representative of the agricultural interest? Where 

 the vigilant Committee on Agriculture, to look after this item in the adjustment 

 of the Taritt', with such efl'ect as that we find the present " Free Trade " Tarifl" 

 protecting it with a duty of Jive per cent, on the imported article, and the late 

 more protective Tarifl" of 1842 encouraging the American production by letting 

 in the product of the Dutch cultivator entirely free ! Think you that the manu- 

 facturer was not there, looking closely after his interest ? 



After all, however, what we imagine is most to be apprehended is the amount 

 of labor demanded for its cultivation when conducted in a manner to bear any 

 comparison with what we see is applied to it in Holland and elsewhere in Eu- 

 rope. Still, with Government encouragement, comparable with that which is 

 extended to some other branches of industry, it would take root and become an 

 established item of our agricultural staples, and so far relieve other branches, 

 where production is so much beyond all remunerating demand. In many new 

 enterprises of this sort, half the difficulty consists in the timidity and irresolu- 

 tion of those who contemplate them. Especially is this the case with men 

 whose habits of life are anything but encouraging to intellectual versatility and 

 enterprise. Another bar to the general culture of madder is the long time — sev- 

 eral years — that elapses between the seed time and the harvest — demanding the 

 exercise of a quality of all others the most incompatible with the genius of the 

 American people. 



We proceed to give one out of the many communications before us, because it 

 seems to be among the most recent and nearest home. The result of still more 

 recent ones shail be sought for, and given as they come to hand. 



From the Albany Cultivator. 

 THE MADDER CROr. 



Hon. J. Fuel — Sir: As I consider the 

 madder crop to be one of impoi-tance, as well 

 to the grower of the article as to the countiy 

 at lai'ge. I deem it proper to send you a few 

 lines, giving some details of the most im- 

 proved method of cultivating and preparing 

 the article for use ; which, it" you deem them 

 worthy a place in the Cultivator, you are at 

 liberty to insert. 



The liuid best adapted to this crop is a re- 

 tentive, strong loam soil, moist, but so situated 

 that the water may pass off in the wet sea- 

 sons of the year. The plant accommodates 

 itself to almost any soil ; for I last fall har- 

 vested a piece that yielded at the rate of five 

 thousand pounds to the acre, (in hills,) which 

 was in a dry, loamy soil, suitable for the 

 wheat or corn crop. 



The method of planting has been formerly 

 in hills, from four to six feet apart. The hills 

 yielded from two to three pounds of ground 

 madder each, on good land. 



Madder growers have lately made great 

 improvements in the mode of planting. The 

 drill method was inti'oduced two or three 

 years since, and is now the only way prac- 

 ticed by those who raise madder in any con- 

 siderable quantities. The first drOls that 

 were planted were set in single rows, about 

 (7U3) 



six feet apart and eighteen inches from plant 

 to plant. These were found to be too near 

 together, boili for the good of the crop and 

 the convenience of tending it. It is now aB- 

 certained that the best method of planting 

 madder is in beds six feet wide, with four 

 rows of plants to a bed, leaving a space be- 

 tween the beds nine feet wide unoccupied ; 

 or it may be planted with rows of corn or po- 

 tatoes the first season. This space is useful 

 for various purposes, as passing with a team 

 to carrv manure, should it be considered neces- 

 sary during the first and second seasons. The 

 manure should be cropped between the beds, 

 and mixed with a plow before it is used in 

 beds. 



Particular care should be taken at the time 

 of planting, that the ground be not too diy. 

 It should be covered with clear, moist dirt, 

 about two or two and a half inches deep. 

 yoon as it has come up, it should be carefully 

 hoed and cleared fiom weeds. AVhen it is 

 six or eight inches high, the tops should be 

 covered up nearly to the ends, and covered 

 agtiin ;is soon as they are six or eight inches 

 high as before. In the fall, before the frost 

 kills the tops, they should be covered entirely 

 tip. It is then left to lie till the next spring. 

 It should be managed in the same manner 



