No. 3. 



Successful Ciiltivation of Madder. 



91 



From the New Genesee Farmer. 



Successful Cultivation of Madder. 



We have at different times heretofore adverted to 

 the cultivation of Madder — Rubia Tin ctonna— and are 

 a g-ood deal apprehensive that it might be made a pro 

 fitable crop. We do not know that it has been sue 

 cessfully cultivated in Pennsylvania. The followinc 

 article by our friend Bateham, editor of the Genesee 

 Farmer, appeared more tlian a year ago in that paper, 

 though it had not caught our eye till quite recently 

 It is published now vvitli a hope that it may lead to 

 further inquiry on the subject. — Ed. 



In tliese times of national cmbamssment 

 when the whole country is sufFeriiig- under 

 the ill eflects of an immense indebtedness 

 to foreign countries, it certainly is the duty 

 of every good citizen to inquire what he can 

 do to aid in restoring prosperity, or in re 

 moving the causes of adversity; and the 

 man who successfully introduces or pro- 

 motes the home production or manufacture 

 of any article of consumption hitherto im- 

 ported, is a true patriot, and deserves the 

 thanks of his country. 



It will doubtless be a matter of surprise 

 to many, to learn that for the single article 

 of Madder, we are annually paying an im- 

 mense amount to foreign countries, while at 

 the same time it is fully demonstrated that 

 this article can be raised in the greatest 

 perfection, and with good profit, in a large 

 portion of the United States. 



In the central or eastern part of the State 

 of New York, madder has been cultivated 

 for some years past, but I believe not very 

 extensively, or with much profit, probably 

 owing to a want of sufficient heat in sum- 

 mer to give luxuriance and depth of colour 

 to the roots ; but in tlie State of Ohio, and 

 similar latitudes, this difficulty cannot exist, 

 and tlie climate is doubtless as fiivourable as 

 that of Germany, if not more so. 



While travelling in the western part of 

 Ohio the past month, I was informed that 

 Mr. Joseph Swift, a farmer of Erie county, 

 was largely engaged in the culture of mad 

 der, and found' it very profitable. I accord 

 ingly determined to visit him and learn the 

 facts in the case. Mr. Swift was one of the 

 earliest settlers of that part of tlie country, 

 having resided there nearly thirty years, on 

 the farm he now occupies, wliich consists of 

 about 400 acres of choice land, mostly allu- 

 vial bottoms, in the valley of the Vermil- 

 lion river, seven miles from Lake Erie 

 Having informed himself on the subject, he 

 commenced by planting nine acres of mad- 

 der in the spring of 1839, which he allowed 

 four seasons' growth, and harvested the crop 

 the past fall. The result is, he is now build- 

 ing a large and beautiful house with the 



proceeds. I found Mr. Swift very hospitable 

 and intelligent, and willmg to communicate 

 any information I desired. At my request 

 he furnished me the following: 



Practical directions for the cultivation 

 of Madder, which, he remarked, must be 

 understood as intended for those who wish 

 to cultivate only a few acres, and cannot 

 afford much outlay of capital. Those who 

 wish to engage in the business on an exten- 

 sive scale, would need to adopt a somewhat 

 different practice. 



Soil and Preparation. — The soil should 

 be a deep, rich, sandy loam, free from weeds, 

 roots, stones, &c., and containing a good 

 portion of vegetable earth. Alluvial bot- 

 tom land is the most suitable, but it must 

 not be w'et, nor too dry. If old upland is 

 used, it should receive a heavy coating of 

 vegetable earth, from the decayed wood and 

 leaves. The land should be ploughed very 

 deeply in the fall, and early in the spring 

 apply about one hundred loads of well-rotted 

 manure per acre, spread evenly, and ploughed 

 in deeply ; then harrow till quite fine and 

 free from lumps. Next plough the land 

 into beds four feet wide, leaving alleys be- 

 tween, three feet wide, then harrow the 

 beds with a fine light harrow, or rake them 

 by hand, so as to leave them smooth and 

 even with the alleys; they are then ready 

 for planting. 



Preparing sets and. planting. — Madder 

 sets, or seed roots, are best selected when 

 [the crop is dug in the fall. The horizontal 

 [uppermost roots, — with eyes — are the kind 

 Ito be used: these should be separated from 

 [the bottom roots, and buried in sand, in a 

 icellar or pit. If not done in the fall, the 

 Isets may be dug early in the spring, before 

 I they begin to sprout. They should be cut 

 or broken into pieces, containing from two 

 to five eyes each ; i. e. three to four inches 

 long. The time for planting is as early in 

 the spring as the ground can be got in good 

 order, and severe frosts are over, which, in 

 this climate, is usually about the middle of 

 April. With the beds prepared as directed, 

 stretch a line lengthwise the bed, and with 

 the corner of a hoe make a drill two inches 

 deep along each edge and down the middle, 

 so as to give three rows to each bed, about 

 two feet apart. Into these drills drop the 

 sets, ten inches apart, covering them two 

 inches deep. Eight or ten bushels of sets 

 are requisite for an acre. 



After culture. — As soon as the maddet 

 plants can be seen, the ground should be 

 carefully hoed so as to destroy the weeds and 

 not injure the plants; and the hoeing and 

 weeding must be repeated as often as weeds 

 make their appearance. If any of the sets 



