480 



DYES AE"D COLOIUKU STUFFS. 



when properly managed. It produced on the farm of a gentleman, 

 who has devoted some attention to this product in Ohio, at the 

 rate of 2,000 lbs. per acre, and it may be made to produce 3,000 lbs., 

 which is a greater yield than the average crops of Germany and 

 Holland. Nine acres were planted by another person in the United 

 States, in 1839, which he harvested in 1842. The labor required 

 is said to be from 80 to 100 days work per acre. 



In the third year the stems are pruned as in the two preceding, 

 and in September the roots are dug up. The roots are fusiform 

 and thin, without any ramifications, and usually from three to 

 five feet long. As soon as raised, they are immediately cut into 

 small pieces and dried, and are then merchantable, 



Mr. Joseph Swift, an enterprising American farmer, of Erie 

 county, Ohio, who occupies about 400 acres of choice land, mostly 

 alluvial, in the valley of the Vermilion river, seven miles from 

 Lake Erie, has detailed his practice in the " l^ew Grenesee Ear- 

 mer" (an agricultural periodical), for March, 1843. His directions 

 must be understood as intended for those who wish to cultivate 

 only a few acres, and cannot aflbrd much outlay of capital. Those 

 who desire to engage in the business on an extensive scale, would 

 need to adopt a somewhat different practice : — ■ 



Soil and preparation.— -^^ The soil should be a deep, rich, sandy loam, free from 

 weeds, roots, stones, &c., containing a good portion of vegetable earth. Alluvial 

 " bottom" land is the most suitable, but it must not be wet. If old upland is 

 used, it should receive a heavy coating of vegetable earth, from decayed wood 

 and leaves. The land should be ploughed very deep in the fall, and early in the 

 spring apply about one hundred loads of well-rotted manure per acre, spread 

 evenly, and ploughed in deeply ; then harrow till quite fine and free from lumps. 

 Next plough the land into beds four feet wide, leaving alleys between three 

 feet wide, then harrow the beds with a fine light harrow, or rake them by hand, 

 BO as to leave them smooth and even with the alleys ; they are then ready for 

 planting. 



Preparing sets and planting. — Madder sets or seed roots are best selected 

 when the crop is dug in the fall. The horizontal uppermost roots (with eyes) 

 are the kind to be used ; these should be separated from the bottom roots, and 

 buried in sand in a cellar or pit. If not done in the fall, the sets may be dug 

 early in the spring, before they begin to sprout. They should be cut or broken 

 into pieces, containing from two to five eyes each ; i. e., three to four inches 

 long. The time for planting is as early in the spring as the ground can be got in 

 good order, and severe frosts are over, which in this climate (America) is usually 

 about the middle of April. With the beds prepared as directed, stretch a line 

 lengthwise the bed, and with the corner of a hoe make a drill two inches deep 

 along each edge and down the middle, so as to give three rows to each bed, 

 about two feet apart. Into these drills drop the sets, ten inches apart, covering 

 them two inches deep. Eight or ten bushels of sets are requisite for an acre. 



After culture. — As soon as the madder plants can be seen, the ground should 

 be carefully hoed, so as to destroy the weeds and not injui-e the plants ; and 

 the hoeing and weeding must be repeated as often as weeds make their appear- 

 ance. If any of the sets have failed to grow, the vacancies should be filled by 

 taking up parts of the strongest roots and transplanting them ; this is best dona 

 in June. As soon as the madder plants are ten or twelve inches high, the tops 

 are to be bent down on the surface of the ground, and all except the tip end 

 covered with earth, shovelled from the middle of the alleys. Bend the shoots 

 outward and inward in every direction, so as in time to fill all the vacant space 

 on the beds, and about one foot on each side. After the first time covering, re- 



