MADDER 99 



in Cyprus (see BULLETIN OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, 

 vol. xi. 1913, pp. 412-414). 



Madder 



In former years, and within the period of the British 

 occupation, the cultivation of madder (Rubia tinctorum) 

 was fairly flourishing in Cyprus. The old madder grounds 

 can still be distinguished, and are mostly to be seen near 

 Morphou, Ayia Irini, Sotira, Ayios Serghios, Famagusta 

 and Larnaca. These madder grounds were excavations 

 made in order to expose the soil lying beneath 10 to 30 ft. 

 of drift-sand ; and they form, as it were, a series of tanks 

 along the shore. The red dye obtained from the dried and 

 ground madder roots constituted at one time one of the 

 most valued of dye-stuffs, and was in special demand for 

 military uniforms ; but this has been entirely superseded 

 by artificial coal-tar derivatives and, as Gennadius says : 

 1 The happy days of the cultivation of this plant are past, 

 never to return." 



It is propagated mostly by root cuttings. The leaf 

 begins to dry at about the sixth month. There is no 

 further growth above ground, but the roots continue to 

 increase and shoot downwards till moisture affects them. 

 " When they get too wet, they become black or rot. In 

 Cyprus this rotting would often begin after about eighteen 

 months, while in superior soils the roots would continue to 

 improve during thirty-six months, and they would be 

 known in the trade as eighteen months and thirty-six 

 months roots* In Famagusta district they remain mostly 

 eighteen months, while at Morphou they would continue 

 fully thirty-six months, during the whole of which time 

 the surface ground should be kept free of weeds." 



After the root is lifted it is generally dried ; if packed 

 before quite dry, it ferments and deteriorates. 



Two and a half tons of dried roots would be produced 

 from an acre of good ground, and the madder grounds used 

 to fetch a very high price. 



DRUGS AND OTHER PRODUCTS 



Liquorice Root 



The liquorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Linn.) grows 

 mainly in the Famagusta and Kyrenia districts, and the 



