332 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [ April. 



weeds. In November the haulm being decayed, cut it oft", and then 

 draw three or four inches of earth over the crowns of the plants; 

 this may be performed either with the plough or hoe, and let them 

 remain so all winter. 



The second year in the beginning of April, the earth on the top 

 of the rows should be scuttled over and raked, to destroy the young 

 weeds, and make the surface smooth and mellow, as well as to 

 permit the rising buds to shoot freely. 



The second summer the same care must be taken of the mad- 

 der as the first, and nothing planted between the rows; and in 

 November, the crowns of the roots are to be covered as in the 

 preceding year. Some lay down the haulm, and cover it with 

 earth, for the greater protection of the roots; but this is a very 

 pernicious practice, for it in a little time becomes mouldy, and 

 seldom fails to communicate this to the crowns, which materially 

 injures them, and consequently the whole roots. 



The madder roots should never be taken up till they have had 

 three summers' growth; and the culture of the third is the same 

 as of the second year during the spring, summer and autumn. 



In the September or October of the third year, when the haulm 

 is perfectly decayed, the roots are carefully taken up and dried, 

 first for a few days in the air; they are afterwards put on a kiln, 

 and dried effectually with a slow heat; after which, it is pounded 

 by stampers, kept in motion by a mill or wheel, which is turned 

 by either water, wind or horses, then sifted and packed up in 

 casks, as hard as possible. 



Madder may be cultivated from seeds by sowing them in rows, 

 as directed for the plants; observing to sow three or four seeds 

 where a plant might be expected, and cover them a little better 

 than half an inch deep; when grown an inch or two, pull out the 

 weakest, and leave the best to remain, at proper distances, for full 

 growth. 



Those who are desirous of further information on this subject, 

 may consult Martyn's edition of Miller's Gardener's Dictionary. 



Fullers Teasel. 



The Dipsaeus fullonum, or Fuller's teasel, is cultivated in great 

 quantities in the west of England, for raising the nap on woollen 

 cloths, by means of the crooked awns upon the heads; which in the 

 wild sort are not sufficiently hooked. For this purpose they are 

 fixed around the circumference of a large broad wheel, which is 

 made to turn around, and the cloth is held against them. The 

 heads are collected in August, as soon as they begin to turn brown, 

 and exposed daily to the sun till they become perfectly dry; care 

 bei n^ taken to protect them from rain. 



This plant is propagated by sowing the seed either in March or 

 April, upon a soil that has been well ploughed, and it is observed, 

 that good wheat land is well adapted for the production of teasels. 

 The ground being ploughed and made fine, from one peck to two of 

 seed is generally sown upon an acre, and harrowed in with a light 



