920 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



5953. The season of planting is commonly May or June, and the manner is generally 

 in rows nine or ten inches asunder, and five or six inches apart in the rows. Some plant 

 promiscuously in beds with intervals between, out of which earth is thrown in tlie lazy- 

 bed manner of growing potatoes ; but this is unnecessary, as it is not the surface, but the 

 descending, roots which are used by the dyer. 



o 5954. The operation of planting is generally performed by the dibber, but some ley- 

 plant them by the aid of the plough. By this mode the ground is ploughed over with a 

 shallow furrow, and in the course of the operation the sets are deposited in each furrow, 

 leaning on and pressed against the furrow-slice. This, however, is a bad mode, as there 

 is no opportunity of firming the plants at the roots, and as some of the sets are apt to be 

 buried, and others not sufficiently covered. 



5955. The after-culture consists in hoeing and weeding with stirring by pronged hoes, 

 either of the horse or hand kind. Some earth up, but this is unnecessary, and even in- 

 jurious, as tearing the surface-roots, 



5956. The madder-crop is taken at the end of the third autumn after planting, and 

 generally in the month of October. By far the best mode is that of trenching over the 

 ground, which not only clears it effectually, but fits it at once for another crop. Where 

 madder, however, has been grown on land prepared by the plough, that implement may 

 be used in removing it. Previously to trenching, the haulm may be cleared off with an 

 old scythe, and carted to the farmery to be used as litter to spread in the straw-yards. 



5957. Drying the roots is the next process, and, in very fine seasons, may sometimes 

 be effected on the soil, by simply spi-eading the plants as they are taken up ; but in most 

 seasons they require to be dried on a kiln, like that used for malt or hops. They are 

 dried till they become brittle, and then packed up in bags for sale to the dyer. 



5958. The produce from the root of this plant is different according to the difference 

 of the soil, but mostly from ten to fifteen or twenty hundred weight where they are suit- 

 able to its cultivation. 



5959. In judging of the quality if madder-roots, the best is that which, on being 

 broken in two, has a brightish red or purplish appearance, without any yellow cast being 

 exhibited. 



5960. The use of madder-roots is chiefly in dyeing and calico-printing. The haulm 

 which accumulates on the surface of the field, in the course of three years, may be carted 

 to the farm-yard, and fermented along with horse-dung. It has the singular property 

 of dyeing the horns of the animals who eat it of a red colour. 



5961. Madder-seed in abundance may be collected from the plants in the September 

 of the second and third years ; but it is never- so propagated. 



5962. Madder is sometimes blighted ; but in general it has few diseases. 



iSuBSECT. 5, Woad, Isatis tinctoria L. ; Tetradyndmia Siliquosa L., and Crudferce J, 

 Pastel or Guede^ Fr. j Waid, Ger. ; Guade, Ital. ; and Gualda, Span. {fig. 801.) 



5963. Tlie common woad is a biennial plant with a fusiform fibrous root, and smooth 

 bl^np.hy stem rising from three to five feet in height. It is a native, or naturalised in 



England, flowers from May to July, and its seeds are ripe 

 from July tb September. It has been cultivated in France 

 for an unknown length of time, and was introduced to 

 England in 1582, and grown with success. It is now 

 chiefly cultivated in Lincolnshire, where it is a common 

 practice to take rich flat tracts near rivers, at a high price, 

 for the purpose of growing it for two or four years. 

 Those who engage in this sort of culture form a sort of 

 colony, and move from place to place as they complete 

 their engagements. It is sometimes, however, grown bye 

 stationary farmers. The leaves are the parts of the planti 

 used, and it is considered a severe crop. 



5964. T/iere is a variety of woad called the Dalmatian, 

 described by Miller, and also a wild sort ; but only the 

 common is cultivated in this country. 



5965. The soil for woad should be deep and perfectly 

 fresh, such as those of the rich, mellow, loamy, and deep, 

 vegetable kind. Where this culture is carried to a consi- 

 derable degree of perfection, as in Lincolnshire, the deep, 



rich, putrid, alluvial soils on the flat tracts extending upon the borders of the large rivers, 

 are chiefly employed for the growth of this sort of crop ; and it has been shown by re-"* 

 peated trials that it answers most perfectly when they are broken up for it immediately 

 from a state of sward. 



5966. The preparation of the soil, when woad is to be grown on grass land, may either 

 be effected by deep ploughings, with the aid of the winter's frost, cross ploughing and 



