Figure 4. — Indigo plant (Pomet, 1694). 



The earliest known attempt to grow indigo in America is revealed in 

 a tract dated 1649 (Force, 1838, p. 4).^ From it we learn that indigo was 

 planted with the notion that it would eventually prove ten times more 



2 This excerpt from an anonymous letter included in Peter Force's collection of early 

 documents appears in a section entitled "A Perfect Description of Virginia: Being a 

 full and true Relation of the present State of the Plantation, their Health, Peace, and 

 Plenty . . . certified by diverse men ..." 



14 



