380 [Assembly 



Mr. Pike had tried to produce madder on his farm in New Jer- 

 sey, an.^. had found it a hard crop to raise. 



Dr. Underhill : We are in want of exact accounts from practi- 

 cal men on this and other crops. Nothing is more important. 

 A farmer does not lil^e to undertalie a new plant unless he sees 

 his way clear all the way from seed to harvest, and the exact cost 

 and results of crop. He who will furnish such truly instructive 

 lessons will confer a vast favor upon his fellow men. 



Judge Van Wyck : Madder is one of the questions before us to 

 day. It is important at this time that our agriculturists should 

 possess the best information about the plant, aud especially the 

 manner of growing it, the introduction of it being pretty strong- 

 ly recommended by some. It will be new to us. Very little has 

 as yet been grown in our country. It requires a rich soil, it is 

 admitted on all hands ; a sandy loam it is said to be the best ; first 

 rate tillage in every stage of its growth ; plowing and hoeing, and 

 that deep ; ground kept mellow and clear of weeds. Good til- 

 lage is what most plants require, especially indian corn ; but this 

 last and others now in general cultivation by our farmers yield 

 their fruits witlun the year of planting them ; the winter grains, 

 so called, within ten months ; corn, oats, barley, kc, within five 

 months. Madder produces no profitable results until the fourth 

 year after planting, and every year deep and dilligent culture. 

 It is used as a dye, and a very valuable one it is. It colors red, 

 brighter and more durable, perhaps, tlian any other, and several 

 other colors. Scarlet though is tlie most ioiportaut and tlie most 

 in demand ; no other materials will make it scarcely tolerable. 

 It is said to be always in demand in our markets, and they are 

 never glutted with it. If, then, the article, with this length of 

 time before it comes to maturity or fit for use, will pay the far- 

 mer better than anything else, we ought to recommend it for cul- 

 tivation. Snch, though, are the habits of our farmers, derived 

 from cultivating, for a long time, an entirely difierent class of 

 plants, and which produce results so much quicker and more ra- 

 pidly, I fear it would be difficult very soon to persuade them to 

 try their luck at this new one. Our farmers are cautious in their 

 movements- in these matters. They will not risk much ; they 



