WO .ID. 



quantity of ved tor the broad-east method is five or six Ibs. 

 to the acre : for the drill mode, two pounds are more than 



<:ienl, tho seed being smaller than that of the turnep. 



w .seed, where, it can be pre.cnred, should always be sown 



in prclerenr-r to old ; but, when of the latter kind, it should 



eeped for sometime before it is put into the ground. 

 The time of sowing mav be extended from February to .lulv. 

 Early >owinr. however, is to he preferred, as in that ease the 

 (ilan'is i-oinc up stronger and aflord more produce the first 



"ii. Tib- after culture of the woad consist*, in boei 



thinning, prolix-stirring, and weeding, which operations ma \ 



lie practised by hand or horse tools, as in the culture of teazle. 



GATHERING THE CROPS. The leaves of the spring-sown 



plants will generally be ready towards the latter end of June 



or beginning of July, according to the nature of the soil, sea- 



son and climate; the leaves of those put in at a later period 



in the summer are often tit to be gathered earlier. This bu- 



lonld, however, constantly be executed as soon as the 



leaves are fully grown, while they retain their perfect green 



i and are highly succulent ; as when they are let remain 

 till they begin to turn pale, much of their goodness is said to 

 be expended, and they become less in quantity, and of an infe- 

 rior quality for the purposes of the dyer. Where the lands a re 

 well managed they will often afford two or three gatherings, 

 hut the best cultivators seldom take more than two, which an- 

 sometimes mixed together in the manufacturing. It is ne- 

 cessary that the after-cropping?, when they are taken, should 

 be constantly kept separate from the others, as thcv would 

 injure tho whole if blended, and considerably diminish the 

 value of the produce. It is said that the best method, whf 

 third cropping is either wholly or partially made, is lo keep n 

 separate, forming it into an inferior kind of woad. in the 

 execution of this sort of business, a numher of baskets are 

 usually provided in proportion to the extent of the crop, and 

 into these the leaves are thrown as they are taken from the 

 plants. The leaves are detached from the plants, by grasp- 

 ing them firmly with the hand, and gi \-ing them a sort of a 

 sudden twist. In favorable seasons, where the soils are rich, 

 ihe plants will often rise to the height of eight or ten inches ; 

 but in other circumstances, they seldom attain more than four 

 or five. 



The produce is mostly from about a ton to a ton and a half 

 of green leaves. The price varies considerably ; but for 

 woad of the prime quality, it is often from twenty-five to thirty 



