CULTIVATION OF WOAD, &C. 295 



The discovery of indigo has greatly checked the culti- 

 vation of this plant, and it is now limited to a few localities, 

 where it is used for forming that coloring preparation known 

 under the name of coques de pastel. I am, however, much 

 inclined to think that the cultivation of woad may be re- 

 stored to its former state, and that it will form, sooner or 

 later, one of the most important branches of French agri- 

 culture ; and this opinion has determined me to devote a 

 chapter of this work particularly to the subject, and I shall 

 treat of it under three heads. 



1st. The cultivation of Woad. 



2d. The manufacture of the cakes from the leaves of the 

 plant. 



3d. The extraction of Indigo from it. 



ARTICLE I. 



On the Cultivation of JVoad. 



It appears that the isatis tinctoria may be made to 

 flourish everywhere excepting in moist lands ; corn-fields 

 and ground which is prepared for cultivation are adapted 

 to its growth ; a good crop may be procured upon alluvial 

 soils, but strong soils are preferable, provided they are not 

 too clayey. 



The ground in which the seed of the isatis is to be sown 

 must be ploughed three times, not only that the ground 

 may be thoroughly softened and divided, but that all the 

 weeds which would injure the growth of the plant, and 

 increase the expense of weeding, may be destroyed. The 

 different ploughings should be performed at intervals of a 

 month or three weeks from each other. In strong lands 

 and those which are disposed to retain too much water, 

 deeper furrows may be traced at certain spaces, so as to 

 form small drains, by which the water that would injure 

 the plant is drawn off. The nature of the manure which 

 is employed in the culture of woad, exerts a powerful influ- 

 ence, not only upon the vegetation of the plant, but upon 

 the quantity and quality of its coloring principle. 



The manures which consist of well decomposed animal 

 or vegetable substances are the best, and for this reason 



