396 [Assembly 



President Tallmadge. — I will submit a few remarks. Our 

 knowledge is much in our books ; the information given in Ure's 

 work is very valuable. We owe obligations to Mr. Pell for 

 gathering and giving us knowledge. I had an opportunity at 

 Avignon to study the subject of madder. The dyes of nature are 

 produced from minerals in soils, so are the colors of madder ; one 

 soil contains some element which causes it to be yellow — a dif- 

 ferent soil gives red madder. Take a muck soil and make it 

 richer by amendment and manure, you will obtain peculiar 

 colors. Original native soils containing lime, silex, &c., may 

 suit madder. Calcareous matter is indispensable. I have re- 

 cently remarked, that the rich alluvial bottoms of our river val 

 lies, would be found highly favorable to its growth, and ninety- 

 nine times in an hundred, these alluvials will be found good for 

 madder. They are soils made by nature in the most perfect and 

 admirable manner. A continent is swept by the torrents which 

 carry oif to deposit on the banks of our great rivers, all the in- 

 gredients, organic and inorganic existing in arange of several thou- 

 sand miles. This alluvium is annual, and the heat of our bril- 

 liant summer dries them so as to admit of annual culture. Other 

 countries are troubled with permanent morasses, we have scarce- 

 ly any. By close investigation, I believe we shall discover 

 methods of perfecting madder in the shortest time. This is of 

 great importance, that the fields wanted for other crops, may not 

 be so loj]g occupied by the madder. 



The dye of madder of one year's growth is poor. In the second 

 year it has been recommended by some experienced men — but in 

 the third and fourth years it is at its greatest perfection and be- 

 gins to lessen in value, for it then commences to take a woody 

 character without increase of size or quantity of dye, or improve 

 ment in its quality. Our import of this article, was about three 

 million of dollars worth in 1836 ; from our growth since that time, 

 I suppose the import must have qiiadriq)led, and must go on to in- 

 crease with increased rapiditj' to keep pace with our works and 

 our population. If we can show our country the importance of 

 growing it, it will soon be produced, not only sufficient for our 

 manufactures, but for any amount of exportation. Our cotton 

 doubles in a short period, and demands the relative growth of 



