474 [Assembly 



beiug buried under ground, if well done, in a dry j)lace, and of 

 sufficient depth to be safe from frost. This mode of keeping them 

 is most congenial with their liabits, such as germination, growth, 

 and maturity, all take place under the earth ; vegetables and 

 fruits that do not ripen under ground, some of them keep very 

 well being buried, apples for instance keep well, and some other 

 fruits no doubt would — grapes I should think would not do so 

 well, they are too delicate. This is one reason why vegetables 

 keep well in good cellars, they are under ground, most fruits will 

 keep well in cellars, with care, especially apples. Besides indigo 

 and woad, that would encourage, as has been observed, both the 

 agricultural and manufacturing industry of our country, there is 

 madder ; this has the advantage of the others, and especially in- 

 digo, it will grow well far north, and it is a first rate coloring 

 material, it makes scarlet or red of the best kind. Tndigo will 

 only grow well near tlie tropics. 



The subject of colors is quite important for our country, there 

 is much nice learning relating to it, and which must be studied 

 to understand it, this has been shown to day as well as on former 

 occasions. The coloring material is also much used in the arts, 

 another of the great departments of industry of the American In- 

 stitute, our painters all use it rcore or less, portrait, landscapes, 

 &c. '^*'^- ' 



, Amjjrose Sxkvkns. — Madder giov\s very well in the valk-y of 

 our own Mohawk. 



Prof. Mapes. — On the regular question — adverted to the me- 

 thods and with some success, especially in France — of preserving 

 vegetables by a slight cooking, and in hermetically sealed vessels. 

 The attempts to preserve meats as well as vegetables on this plan, 

 have proved in some cases perfect failures. Large quantities 

 prepared here and sent to the Mediterranean, were all condemned. 

 I have tried fruits in vacuo, but they proved not worth much : 

 fruits have been buried in charcoal dust, saw dust, but if they 

 keep .their figure, they nevertheless lose Ilavor, so as to be of little 

 worth. Pears have been well kept — some of them, as you well 

 kaow, do not mature on their trees,, but by proper keeping are 



