522 [Assembly 



madder sets. Here, where land is plenty, and we wish to do as 

 much as we can with the team, we lay ofiour ground into double 

 rows one way through the field, 12 feet from center to center. If 

 the soil is not quite strong, plough out a deep wide furrow and 

 fill with manure, then throw the earth over it from both sides 

 with the plough ; then set two rows of madder, three feet apart ; 

 plant 12 inches apart in the row for the plants or sets; make 

 holes with a sharp pointed stick or iron bar to receive eacli one, 

 and then close the earth around it. The weeds must be kept 

 down by frequent ploughing, and that will keep the earth in the 

 right state for use as it is wanted. When the young plants are 10 

 inches high take long handled shovels and lay down the tops, 

 spreading them in every direction, then cover them with the loose 

 earth, as much as will let them live, leaving the ends just uncov- 

 ered ; as sooa as they get up again about the same height, cover 

 them again in the same way, the top all the time making root. 

 The first season this should be done three or four times, and just 

 before frost comes cover up entirely with soil ; the second season 

 plow and cover, in the same way, three times and cover up in the 

 fall before frost ; the tliird summer nothing is necessary to be 

 done but keep the weeds down and dig in August. Rows twelve 

 feet apart where land is plenty as here is more convenient than 

 closer; but where labor is cheap, and hand labor is the principal 

 labor, eight feet apart will do. 



" This prairie soil is right for growing the madder root. We 

 have a deep, mellow, rich soil — no stone, roots, or grass in the 

 way ; we have only weeds to keep down, and that is easily done 

 with the plow where the plow can reach them. 



" Mr. William Hanna, seventeen miles from Hatgrove, has pur- 

 chased my brother's madder roots and has gone largely into the 

 business, and has from forty to sixty acres under cultivation; has 

 machinery for grinding and rooms for kiln-drying, and <^an give 

 any information in that branch of the business which I am una- 

 ble to do. lie invented a machine worked with four horses to 

 raise tne soil and place it on the bed ; but I do not know whether 

 he was able to dispense with hand labor. He is an able and 

 thorough-going farmer, and I presume would take great pleasure 

 in -irapartin? any useful information he may have in relation to 

 the business. His address is Monmouth, our county seat." 



