218 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



priced lands of England and France are profitably devoted to it, how much 

 more lucrative must it prove where land is plentiful and cheap, and where, 

 above all (as is the case in several of the Western States), the soil is natu- 

 rally permeable, free from stones, and no manuring required. It is indeed 

 mortifying to American pride to witness the many thousands now annually 

 paid to Europe for an article like this, so simple in its culture, that we 

 ought to be the largest exporters of it, thus adding another item to our 

 Granary of the World. 



" The licorice is a deep-rooting perennial plant, of the Leguminosce, the 

 roots creeping to a considerable distance. It has herbaceous stems, four 

 to five feet high, with composite dark green leaves. Tiie flowers, which are 

 blue, come out in axillary spikes during July and August. It has long 

 been extensively cultivated in Spain, and since the commencement of 

 Queen Elizabeth's reign, it has been largely grown in various parts of 

 England. 



" The soil for the licorice should be a deep sandy loam, or other light 

 soil, and be trenched by the spade or by a subsoil plow, or by the aid of 

 both, two to two-and-a-half or three feet in depth, and well manured. The 

 light permeable soils of our Western States, which are enriched by nature, 

 are the soils pre-eminently suited to the most profitable culture of this 

 plant. 



" The propagation is by cuttings of the root, and usually the small side 

 roots are taken for this purpose, and made into cuttings four to six inches 

 in length. The planting season may be either autumn or spring, as most 

 convenient. The cuttings should be planted in rows, two-and-a-half to 

 three feet asunder, and at the distance of eighteen inches in the row. 

 During the first season, the plants do not attain a height of more than a 

 foot, and the space between the rows may be used to grow onions, lettuce, 

 beans, or similar vegetables. Keep the ground free from weeds, and, after 

 the subordinate crop comes off, hoe and dress it well, when for economy, a 

 horse-hoe or cultivator may be used. During the second season a crop of 

 vegetables, covering less width than the first, may be grown, each year 

 allowing additional space to the increasing stems of the licorice. Every 

 autumn the haulm should be cut and removed after it becomes withered. 

 As this plant spreads its roots rapidly in every direction, they will form a 

 complete mass, yielding immense crops. 



"At the end of the third summer's groM'th the roots will have increased 

 BO as to be taken up, which is usually done by commencing at one side of 

 the field and trenching over the ground. The roots can be immediately 

 sold to the brewers, distillers, druggists, and other consumers and venders; 

 or they may be preserved in sand till wanted for use. If, however, they 

 are intended for transportation, they should be dried and tied in bundles. 



" Licorice is used very extensively in brewing porter, and in medicinal 

 and various other preparations where saccharine matter of this description 

 is desirable." 



Grape Growing and Wine Making. 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — I have been much pleased with the letters of Mr. 

 N. C. Meeker, Dongola, Illinois, and think them the most interesting I have 



