312 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



rica, and the failure of the native cotton manufac^ 

 ture in which it was principally used. Since the 

 Mexicans have shaken off the Spanish yoke their 

 commercial and agricultural prosperity has become 

 a subject of more rational interest and attention. 

 Attempts are now therefore being made to revive, 

 among other branches of industry, the cultivation of 

 indigo. A little is now grown on the western coasts, 

 and it has been introduced into the valley of Cuautla. 

 In some parts, which are hot and marshy, it is a 

 natural production of the soil *. 



The indigo of Guatimala was long prized as the 

 best, and although this plant was cultivated in the 

 West Indies and other parts of America, none ever 

 approached to the excellence of that of Guatimala, 

 which was long rated in commerce as of unrivalled 

 quality. This plant was much cultivated in the 

 French West-India islands, and the government of 

 the parent country took so great interest in its 

 improvement as to appoint scientific men to investi- 

 gate its preparation and to point out in what manner 

 it was susceptible of improvement. It does not ap- 

 pear, however, that these exertions were attended with 

 any very beneficial results, and although much was 

 suggested, perhaps no real, certainly no very impor- 

 tant, improvements were introduced in the mode of 

 preparing indigo. That prepared by the French 

 still ranked lower, though next in quality to the 

 produce of Guatimala., 



This plant was for some time cultivated in great 

 abundance in Jamaica, forming one of its principal 

 articles of exportation; but a tax having been laid 

 upon it, the culture of sugar became a more profi- 

 table branch of agriculture. Indigofera was found 

 growing spontaneously in Carolina in the year 1747, 

 and so abundantly that 200,000 Ib. were shipped to 

 * Ward's Mexico. 



