WELD. 379 



flowers. It attains to the height of about three feet 

 before blooming. The stems are cylindrical, hollow, 

 and furrowed, terminating in long spikes of yellowish 

 green flowers, like those of mignonette ; these expand 

 in the months of June or July, and are succeeded 

 by globular fruits of the same colour, terminating in 

 three points, and enclosing small brown spherical 

 seeds, which come to maturity in September. 



The more slender the stalk the more it is valued. 

 This plant is commonly sowed with or immediately 

 after barley or oats, no other additional care being 

 required but the application of a bush harrow to 

 cover in the seeds. It makes so little progress during 

 the first year, that the reaping of the grain does it 

 little or no injury. In the ensuing summer it is fit 

 to be pulled. The more careful cultivator, however, 

 devotes a piece of ground solely to its propagation. 

 The seed is then sown in the month of August, in 

 about the proportion of one gallon per acre ; at the 

 end of two months it is hoed and thinned, the plants 

 being left about half a foot apart. The hoeing is 

 repeated twice more, and at the end of June in the 

 ensuing year the flowers appear in full bloom and 

 vigour; in a short time the seeds form, and the 

 stalks then acquire a yellow tinge. This is the most 

 favourable period for gathering; the performance of 

 which, previous to these indications, or some time 

 after they are exhibited, would alike be detrimental 

 to the colour of the dye. At the proper time for 

 pulling the plant the seed is not sufficiently mature 

 for propagation, some plants are therefore reserved 

 for this purpose, and left in the ground until Sep- 

 tember. The plants, after being gathered, are care- 

 fully dried, and then tied up in bundles of from thirty 

 to fifty pounds, and sold to those who prepare the 

 colour from them, or to the dyers who sometimes use 

 them without preparation. 



