404 [Assembly 



less frequently without watering, and at length made into a heap for 

 the dyer. 



The above is the usual mode followed in England, for making 

 "woad. In France and Germany, the woad is sold in dry balls from 

 the hurdles, and any subsequent preparation is made by the dyer at 

 his expense. Some fifteen years since, I bought some ten or more 

 tons of such balls, that had been sent from France and Germany, 

 but could not be sold for consumption. I hired a barn in Greenwich, 

 couched them, gained three tons in weight, and sold it at one hund- 

 red per cent, advance oti the cost of the ball, 



I would caution our agriculturists from having anything to do 

 with woad, at least, at the present time; for great changes are going 

 on both in European and American dyeing that, if they ultimately suc- 

 ceed, will put a veto on its consumption. We have lately been sell- 

 ing English woad of prime quality at 50 per cent, less than it could 

 be imported at only four years since. Prussian blues are being sub- 

 stituted for woad and indigo, both in woolen dyeing, and in calicoes; 

 and a substitute for woad is being used in Europe to a considerable 

 extent, which I am not at liberty at present to make known. The 

 cost, however, is not one-twentieth that of woad. I do not believe 

 the blues made with the substitute are anything like as permanent as 

 when woad is use; and it is not improbable that it may be given up, 

 when the consumers become convinced of the fact. 



CORN. 



The following is an extract of a communication of Mr. Kerr, re- 

 lative to the cultivation of corn : 



In the cultivation of corn, hilling is not a good plan; too much 

 of the rain is carried away from the roots of the plants, and the ma- 

 nure is often exposed to the action of the air, and its efficacy is lost; 

 more space is requisite between the plants. It is now more fashiona- 

 ble to plow the spaces between the plants with the mould-board off, 

 that the coulter of the plow may stir the soil, making good tilth; 

 leaving the soil permeable to moisture, &c. The objections to hilling 

 corn are: 1st, the removal of the roots from the air, and the earth 

 close to the plants is unbroken and covered up. 2d, rain and moist- 



