

292 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



The indigo plant has been cultivated in 

 our green-houses since 1731, and many va- 

 rieties have been introduced since that pe- 

 riod, by the curious in exotic plants. 



Hellot suspects that such a blue faecula 

 as is procured from indigo and woad, is 

 procurable from many other vegetables. He 

 supposes the natural greens of vegetables 

 to be compounded of blue and yellow, and 

 that blue is oftentimes the most perma- 

 nent, so as to remain entire after the pu- 

 trefaction or destruction of the yellow. The 

 theory is specious, and perhaps, on trial, [ 

 may be found just; at all events it is well 

 to give this idea to the world. 



Probably, blue has been selected as the 

 most appropriate colour for the dress of our 

 brave sailors, from its having been anciently 

 used as the symbol of the sea, for which 

 reason the combatants who performed in the 

 NaumachicB, at the Circensian games at Rome, 

 were clad in blue ; and those who had dis- 

 tinguished themselves by any notable exploit : u 

 at sea, were rewarded with a blue ensign. |tk 



Notwithstanding the Dyers' Company of , r 

 London was incorporated so long back as the i v 

 reign of Henry the Sixth, yet the dyeing and 

 dressing of woollen cloths was very imper- 



ii 

 i 



