406 [AssESisLT 



. methods of our own. Alluvial lands, which are test suited to mad- 

 der, lie in abundance along our rivers. These bottom lands cannot 

 be better employed than in the production of this indispensable dye — 

 once used as a red color only, it is now found to be of very great 

 value in fixing other colors. Chemistry has ascertained its various 

 uses. Berthollet's work on dyeing contains some views of this sub- 

 ject, that show its importance. And let me here quote French testi- 

 mony as to the present and future prospects of our country in the 

 exportation of cotton goods. The large amount already made here, 

 requiring, more or less, the use of madder, if we mean to rival Europe 

 in the manufacture, (and why not?) we must send them beautifully 

 dyed. Our infant manufacture of cotton prints was a failure, for 

 want of a proper knowledge of the use of madder. 



I am unable to obtain a distinct account of the import of madder, 

 for it is duty free, and reported generally among drugs and dyes. 

 But as nearly as I can ascertain, our last years' importation wa& 

 about one million eight hundred thousand dollars. 



The British import of madder in 1839 was about twenty million 

 pounds, in 1841 twenty -seven millions, 1842 twenty millions; British 

 duty two shillings a hundred pounds on ground madder, and sixpence 

 on raw madder. The price varies from 14 cents to 17 cents a pound, 



A crop of madder is far more profitable than one of wheat — ten 

 acres of madder is worth 150 of wheat. This root requires weeding. 

 very much as beets do; and while the crop is growing you can take 

 your scythe and mow off the leaves, which make a fodder nearly 

 equal to lucerne. Indeed it must be mowed to give growth to the 

 root. 



VALUABLE PEAS. 



Dear Sir — I stated to you the other day, that there are or Were 

 two valuable varieties of the Pea in the Boston market, that I had 

 not seen in New-York; these are Knight's forty day pea, and the 

 green prolific. 



As you requested, I will give a more particular account of them". 

 The seed of the first was sent about twenty years ago, by Mr. Knight,- 

 to the late Mr. Lowell, or Mr. John Price of Roxbury, as the pro-' 

 duct of many trials to obtain a rich and fruitful pea, combining, aisoy 



