45i 



DYES AlsD COLOEIFG STUFl'S. 



In our settlements of Honduras, Demerara, and various portions 

 of the American continent, it would- amply reward the labor of 

 the cultivator ; several inferior sorts of Indigofera being found 

 there indigenous, and only requii'ing care and culture to improve 

 them. 



The quality of indigo depends upon the species of the plant, 

 its ripeness, the soil and climate of its growth, and the mode of 

 manufacture. The E;ist India, and Brazilian indigo arrives here 

 packed in chests, the Guatemala in ox-hides, called serous. 



The indigo imported from the western hemisphere was for some 

 time considered superior in quality to that of the East. Its cul- 

 vation, however, has been neglected, and the Bengal indigo is 

 preferred at present to any imported from South America, where 

 ic is now only cultivated by the Brazilians and Colombians. If 

 proper attention were paid to the cultivation of the plant, and to 

 the preparation of the dye, it is very likely part of that important 

 trade would be brought back. It thrives best in a moist climate, 

 and the interior of Gruiaua, chiefly newly-cleared land, would be 

 well adapted for it. 



The late Mr, Danlop (" Travels in Central America") gives an 

 interesting description, w^hich, at the risk of repetition in some 

 points, I shall give entire. 



" Several vessels generally arrive at the Union from South 

 America at the time of the periodical fairs, where nearly all the 

 indigo (the only produce of any importance), is disposed of; 

 formerly it reached 10,000 bales, but at present it does not at most 

 exceed 3,000 bales of 150 lbs. each. 



The indigo well known in Europe by the name of Guatemala 

 indigo, was never cultivated in that province (in the same manner 

 as not a grain of the Honduras cochineal is grown there), being 

 entirely grown in the state of San Salvador, in the vicinity of San 

 Miguel, San Yicenti, and the City of Salvador, with the exception 

 of a small quantit}^ of very superior quality grown in the state of 

 Nicaragua, and a few bales in Costa Eica, which is all consumed 

 in the State. Under the government of Spain, the produce of the 

 state of San Salvador alone had reached 10,000 bales, and that of 

 JSicaragua 2,000 ; the produce of San Salvador in 1820, two years 

 before its independence, being 8,323 bales. But since 1822 the 

 annual produce had graduall}'- declined, and in 1846 it did not 

 exceed 1,000 to ].,200 bales, nearly all the indigo estates being 

 abandoned, partly, no doubt, from the great fail iii the price of the 

 article, but more on account of the impossibility of getting laborers 

 to work steadily. 



The plant cultivated in Central America for the manufacture 

 of indigo, is the triennial plant, supposed to be a native of America ; 

 but there is also an indigenous perennial plant, abounding in 

 many parts of Central America, which produces indigo of a very 

 superior quality, but gives less than half the weight which is pro- 

 duced by the cultivated species. The ground for sowing the indigo 

 seed is prepared in April, — a piece of good forest land near one of 



