MORINDA TINCTORIA. 



M. tinctoria is by some botanists supposed to be the wild state of M. citrifolia, but 

 as a species it may be distinguished by its smaller non-shining leaves. It appears 

 probable that both species are employed in the extraction of the characteristic dye. 



The cultivation of dl is almost entirely confined to the Bundelkhand districts of 

 Hamirpur, Jhansi, Jalaun, and Banda; and to limited areas of the Fatehpur and 

 Cawnpore districts. The average area occupied by dl during the three years 1887-88 

 to 1889-90 was — Hamirpur 2,586 acres, Jhansi 2,191 acres, Jalaun 419 acres, and 

 Banda 13 acres. 



The following information regarding the cultivation of this plant and the prepara- 

 tion of the dye is taken from Wright's " Memorandum on Agriculture in the district 

 of Cawnpore," and from the treatise on " Dyes and Tans " of the North-Western 

 Provinces by Sir E. Buck and Mr. Fuller. 



Cultivation and outturn. — Al is grown in black soil because it is friable. Land 

 designed for dl is sown with the cold weather crops for two or three years, but is not 

 manured. On the first fall of rain the land is ploughed, not less than five times, with 

 the bakhar plough. This is a kind of hoe plough used in the Bundelkhand districts, 

 and is a powerful instrument for breaking up the earth and eradicating weeds. 



Towards the end of July the seed is sown broadcast and thoroughly mixed in the 

 ground with the bakhar. Early rain after sowing is necessary, after which the plant 

 sprouts in some 20 days. It is weeded four times, and has to be protected from cattle 

 to prevent the young plants being trampled down. During the second rainy season it 

 is about 2 feet high and is weeded twice. During the third and fourth years' rains 

 the field is ploughed to allow the rain to reach the roots of the plant. 



About the end of December the trees are cut down, and the roots are dug up with 

 pickaxes ; this will take ten men a month, as the ground has to be dug carefully and 

 to the depth of 2\feet. Four men will chop it up into lengths whilst eight men are 

 sorting them into different classes according to their thickness, viz., thin, medium, and 

 thick. The thin thread-like roots are the most valued ; they are called hdrgharka, or 

 bhdra (in Jalaun) and bar (in Jhansi). The second quality, or medium-sized, are 

 known as lari ; and the third kind called pachhkat {ghatiya in Jalaun, and lari in 

 Jhansi) is composed of thick pieces. Very thick roots are called hater do ; they are 

 almost worthless, but are peeled and mixed with hdrgharka by way of adulteration. 

 The roots are dried and packed in gunny bags. The seed is collected in the third year. 

 The kernel is separated from the shell by the seed being kept watered till the shell rots, 

 when the kernel is stamped out with the feet or a hoe. An acre will produce about 

 10 maunds of roots, one-third being of each class; 6 maunds of seed are also ob- 

 tained. 



Method of dyeing. — The colouring matter, as with safflower, is not extracted from 

 the plant till in the actual operation of dyeing. The roots are mixed with a little 

 swoct-oil and ground to powder in a hand mill. The cloth is dyed by being boiled 

 with this powder. The kind of cloth most frequently dyed with dl is the coarse fabric 

 known as khdrua. The cloth is first of all washed and soaked in water with which 

 ^onio powdered sheep's dung has been mixed. It is then bleached j and for this pur- 



