446 [Assembly 



Exported, of growth and manufacture of United States. 



The Chairman requested Dr. Antisell to give his views of 

 this subject. 



Dr. Antisell observed that indigo was a plant of a temperate 

 climate ) grows wild in Mexico, on grounds elevated about six 

 thousand feet above the level of the sea. Indigo certainly does 

 injure the soil; but so also do other plants — perhaps not so much. 

 The sap of the indigo plant is without color when in full growthj 

 but the indigo begins to be formed as soon as the process of de- 

 composition takes place in the leaves and stems, and is deposited 

 in the cells of the plant. Like madder, it requires lime in the 

 soil. Add plaster (sulphate of lime) to the soil; the leguminosa 

 need it. It is desirable that the indigo plant should* have large 

 leaves and stems. Like tea, the first leaves that are gathered 



