No. 3. 



Madder. — Mustard Seed. 



99 



Charleston, have done with regard to the 

 ancient ocean." — Southern Agriculturist. 



Madder. 



Communicated for the Farmers' Cabinet. 



To the Agricultural Society of Newcastle 

 County, Del. 



I HAVE noticed with regret the low prices 

 which the staple articles of agricultural 

 produce of this district, command at this 

 time, owing in a measure, to their being 

 brought into competition by means of the 

 Western rail roads and canals, with the 

 cheap fertile lands in the northern parts of 

 the Mississippi Valley. Under these cir- 

 cumstances it behoves every farmer and 

 friend to the farming interest, to endea- 

 vour to find other objects of culture, on 

 which they may bestow their time and la- 

 bour, with more profit to themselves, and 

 advantage to the community. 



Among other articles that may not be 

 wholly unworthy attention, in this respect, 

 is that of Madder for dymg — Rubia lincto- 

 rum. 



Although this colouring matter, may at 

 first view, appear of but small consequence, 

 yet we may reflect, that there are now import- 

 ed into this country annually, upwards of Jive 

 thousand tons, at a cost of more than one 

 million of dollars. And if our manufac- 

 turing establishments continue to be sus- 

 tained, the consumption will yearly increase; 

 may it not therefore, in a short time, become 

 a profitable article of cultivation, to many 

 of our farmers. 



From experiments which have been made, 

 it is found, that it can be produced in this 

 climate, of quite as good, if not a superior 

 quality, to that which is imported. Under 

 this view, may we not look forward with a 

 hope, that at no very distant day, it will be- 

 come a valuable article in our items of ex- 

 port? 



Madder is now brought into the United 

 States principally from Holland and Ger- 

 many ; their mode of cultivation has hereto- 

 fore been represented as tedious, and labo- 

 rious, requiring much care and skill as well 

 as a large outlay of capital. These repre- 

 sentations appear to have deterred most of 

 our American farmers from undertaking its 

 culture. It is true, the crop requires four 

 years to bring it to full maturity, and needs 

 some labor, knowledge and capital; but from 

 the experience of Joseph Swift, an enter- 

 prising farmer of Erie county Oliio, who 

 has been engaged in its culture for several 

 years, it has yielded more clear profit in 

 proportion to the land occupied and labour 



bestowed, than any other crop he could raise, 

 viz. $200 net profit per acre every four 

 years. 



The above few hasty observations, are 

 made merely to call more able, and experi- 

 enced minds to the subject, if any should 

 think it deserving their attention. 

 Very respectfully, 



Jacob Alrichs. 

 Dr. J. W. Thomson, 



President, &c. 



Before the above communication was received, the 

 article on the same sutrject on page 91, was in type. 

 We are pleased to find our friend's attention has been 

 directed to it: and hope others wliose situation may 

 be favorable, will make the necessary enquiries, and 

 act accordingly. The reasons given by J. Alrichs for 

 the cultivation of madder in the middle states, are cer- 

 tainly very cogent ones. We must here, if we would 

 compete with our western farmers, not only endeavour 

 to produce large crops at little expense as possible, but 

 we must look around, and see if we cannot in some 

 particulars, bring about a change of crops. The Editor 

 is aware that this is but a repetition of what he has 

 heretofore several times said : he hopes the nature of 

 the subject, will plead his excuse. — Ed. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Mustard Seed. 



To THE Editor, 



We have recently purchased from J, H. 

 Parmlee of Ohio, a part of his crop of brown 

 mustard seed, raised, as he informed us, on 

 27 acres of good rich land, prepared with as 

 much care as is usually bestowed upon wheat 

 land. The seed, he says, was planted in 

 rows one foot apart one way, and two feet 

 the other. The crop was well worked dur- 

 ing the season, and when near ripe was cut 

 with sickles, laid on sheets or wagon covers, 

 hauled to the barn in the sheets, and there 

 thrashed out and fanned. 



He has delivered to us as a part of the 

 product of 27 acres of latid, 114 barrels, 

 containing 382 bushels 45 lbs. of brown 

 mustard seed, weighing 52^ lbs. per bushel, 

 making 20,100 lbs., for which we paid him 

 8 cts. per lb., making $ 1608.00 



and he has, he says 100 busliels 

 of tailings, which he estimates 

 will clean up 75 bushels, say 50 

 lbs. per bu., making 3,750 lbs. 

 at 8 cts. 300.00 



Product of 27 acres of brown 

 mustard seed, S 19C8.00 



or $70.66 per acre. 



The time is not fir distpiit, if not already 

 at hand, when the ii.terrsts ot the American 

 farmers will be best promoted by devoting a 



