23 



The Cochineal plant (Cactus Cochinelifer) has been dis- 

 covered in South-Carolina, where it can be cultivated to 

 any extent. We may therefore reasonably hope that the 

 invaluable dye extracted from the insect which gives this 

 plant its name, and which always accompanies it, will speed- 

 ily be numbered among our staple productions.! 



The juice of the common Pokeberry (Phytolacca Decan- 

 dra) has lately been added to the list of permanent vegeta- 

 ble dyes. Dr. Adam Seybert of Philadelphia, was the first 

 who succeeded in fixing this colour, which can be changed 

 from the brightest crimson to a red little inferior to scarlet. 

 It is expected from the further discoveries which are likely 



three feet or more in depth. The ground being first made smooth 

 is divided into beds four feet wide, with alternate alleys, half as 

 wide again as the beds ; the reason of this extraordinary breadth 

 of the alleys will appear presently. In each alley is to be a shal- 

 low channel for the convenience of irrigating the whole field, &c. 

 that part of the alley which is not otherwise occupied may be 

 sown with legumes. 



" The Madder seed is sown broad cast in the proportion of 

 from 25 to 30 Ibs. per acre, about the end of April. Jn a fort- 

 night or three weeks the young plants begin to appear, and from 

 this time to the month of September, care must be taken to keep 

 the ground well watered and free from weeds ; if the plants are 

 examined in autumn they will be found surrounded with small 

 yellow offsets, at the depth of two inches ; and early in Septem- 

 ber the earth from the alleys is to be dug out, and laid over the 

 plants of madder to the heights of two or three feet, with this 

 the first year's operation finishes. The second year's work be- 

 gins in May, with giving the beds a thorough weeding, and care 

 must be taken to supply them with plenty of water during the 

 summer; in September the fii'st crop of seed will be ripe, at 

 whicli time the stems of the plants may be mown down, and the 

 roots covered a few inches with earth taken as before out of the 

 alleys. The weeding should take place as early as possible in 

 the spring of the third year, aud the crop, instead of being left 

 for seed, may be cut three times during summer for green fod u 

 der, all kinds of cattle being remarkably fond of it. In Octo- 

 ber the roots are taken up, the offsets carefully separated and 

 immediately used to form a new plantation, and the roots, after 

 being dried, are sold, either without further preparation, or 

 grouHd to a coarse powder and sprinkled with an alkaline ley. 

 The roots lose four- fifths of their weight in drying, and the pro- 

 duce of an acre is about two thousand pouads weight of dry sale- 

 able madder." 



f Archives of Knowl. vol. 1st, 257- 



