No. 129.] 449 



may be in the case of indigo It is true, there is no great de- 

 mand for it as yet, we look to foreign countries for the results of 

 its use, it is believed, though, the time will come, when our pop- 

 ulation gets dense and manufactories more established among us,, 

 there will be a demand for all that is raised and so as to pay our 

 growers The plant grows wild in Pennsylvania, and other mid- 

 dle states, but of an inferior character, still it gives the blue 

 color; it is styled by competent persons who have examined it, 

 wild indigo, or dyers' baptesia. It is necessary for those who su- 

 perintend the process of coloring to be good chemists ; this is th© 

 reason why the French succeed so well in the business. They 

 watch with intense care every stage of the operation, and are 

 often obliged to use several other ingredients ; sometimes they 

 use woad with indigo to give a good blue, almost always sulphuric 

 acid to dissolve the last in. According to circumstances thej 

 use more or less sulphate of iron, oxide of iron, carbonic acid, 

 the alkalies, lime, potash, soda and oxygen ; they make great use 

 of this last, they get it from the atmosphere — and great use of lime 

 in various quantities. These learned operators must often coun- 

 teract one ingredient by another when too much has been used 

 of one, or improperly used in any way, so as to keep up the proper 

 proportion of influence among them all, to effect in the final 

 result, the most uniform^ermanent and brightest blue. 



Dr. Antisell. — One great advantage in the indigo dye is, that it 

 is good for all textures. Prussian blue is not, for it is apt to turn 

 pale and of a greenish hue on silk and cottons, while indigo blue 

 is always beautiful. The indigo plant does grow wild in this 

 country. 



The Secretary read from the Boston Journal of the 15th of Jan- 

 uary instant, sent to him for this Club, an account of the forma- 

 tion of the " Massachusetts Board of Agriculture," by delegates 

 from many agricultural societies of the State. An executive 

 committee was appointed consisting of the Hon. Edward Everett, 

 John W. Proctor, J. H. W. Page, Professor Fowler, of Amherst, 

 and Hon. B. V. French, of Braintree. In the report they ask for 

 a State Department of Agriculture, and a National Convention 



[Assembly, No. 129.] 29 



