160 



CULTIVATION OF DYE-PLANT. Chap. VITI. 



and even both at top and bottom. These bundles 

 are each about a foot long, and, of course, nearly 

 round. Having been thus prepared, they are 

 carried to a dry shed or outhouse, where, in some 

 snug corner, they are packed closely and firmly 

 together, and banked round with very dry loam. 

 A portion of the dry soil is also shaken in between 

 the bundles ; and this being done, the operation 

 is complete. Should the winter prove unusually 

 severe, a little dry straw or litter is thrown over 

 the surface of the cuttings, but nothing else is 

 required. During the winter months the cuttings 

 remain green and plump ; and, although no leaves 

 are produced, a few roots are generally found 

 formed, or in the act of forming, when the winter 

 has passed, and the season for planting has come 

 round. In this state they are taken to the fields 

 and planted. The weather during the planting 

 season is generally showery, as this happens about 

 the change of the monsoon, when the air is charged 

 with moisture. A few days of this warm showery 

 weather is sufficient to establish the new crop, 

 which now goes on growing with luxuriance, and 

 requires little attention during the summer — indeed 

 none, except keeping the land free from weeds. 

 * In the country where this dye is grown there 

 are numerous pits or tanks on the edges of the 

 fields. They are usually circular in form ; and one 

 which I measured was eleven feet in diameter, 

 and two feet in depth. About 400 catties* of 



* A Chinese catty is equal to 1^ lb. 



