THE DYERS' WEED. 73 



seared up by these extremes in exposed situations. It 

 was, and is yet, I believe, cultivated in England for the 

 use of the dyer. We import it, however, into Bristol 

 from France ; and it sells in that city for ten shillings 

 per cwt. in. a dry state. It gives a fine, permanent, yel- 

 low color to cottons, silks, and woollens, in a variety of 

 shades, by the aid of alum, &c. A blue tincture changes 

 these to as fine a green. Injury has certainly been oc- 

 casioned by writers on agricultural affairs recommend- 

 ing, without due inquiry, the culture of this or that 

 crop ; and I would not incur a censure that I blame in 

 another; yet I cannot but suggest the possible profit 

 that might arise from the culture of this plant. If for- 

 eigners derive sufficient encouragement to import it, 

 notwithstanding the charges of freight, port duties, and 

 various consequent expenses, why can it not be grown 

 with us, and afford superior remuneration, not having 

 such deductions to diminish the profits 1 The culture 

 of it seems very simple, the manner of conducting the 

 crop, and harvesting the product, attended with little 

 trouble or risk. Marshal* prefers a good soil; others 

 again say, that it becomes stalky in a rich soil. With 

 us it grows luxuriantly, three or four feet high, on a 

 thin, stony, undressed soil, apparently the very station 

 it prefers ; and we have about us much land of this kind, 

 not intrinsically worth ten shillings an acre. It might 

 be rash to predict the amount of a crop in such soils, 

 but a ton to an acre is said to be but a small allowance ; 

 yet the prpduce of only this quantity, which would pro- 

 cure in the market a return of 10Z. without any expen- 

 diture for manure, no more manual labor after the seed 

 is sown, for nine months, than three thinnings, and 

 cleanings with the hoe, and the crop harvested within 

 the year, would be no trifling profit, and may be deserv- 

 ing of some consideration .f The bark, the wood, the 

 flower, the leaves of many of our native trees and plants 

 afford a yellow dye ; we have no color so easily pro- 

 duced as this is; and it is equally remarkable, that, 



* Rural Economy of Norfolk. 



t Article Reseda, in Encyclopedia Britannica. 



G 



