April.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 33 j 
soon after they are above ground, and managed as hereafter di- 
rected, they become so many plants. These roots are of a dark 
colour on their outside, and have a yellowish red pith in the middle, 
which is tough and of a bitterish taste; from the root arises many 
large four-cornered, jointed stalks, which, in good land, will grow 
five or six feet high, and if supported, sometimes seven or eight; 
they are armed with short herbaceous prickles, and at each joint 
are placed five or six spear-shaped leaves, about three inches long, 
and near one broad in the middle, drawing to a point at each 
end; their upper surfaces are smooth, but their mid-ribs, on the 
under side, are armed with rough herbaceous spines; the leaves set 
close to the branches in whorls. From the joints of the stalk come 
out the branches which sustain the flowers; they are placed by 
pairs opposite, each pair crossing the other; these have few but 
small leaves towards the bottom, which are generally by threes, 
and upwards by pairs opposite; the branches are terminated by 
branching spikes of companulate yellow flowers, which are cut into 
four segments. These appear in June, and are followed by round- 
ish dark coloured seeds, compressed and indented on the side where 
joined to the pedicle or partial flower-stalk, and are about the size 
of asparagus seed. 
I am the more particular in the description, as there are seven 
different species of Rubin or madder, lest the wrong kind should 
be cultivated and produce a discouraging disappointment to the 
industrious and deserving cultivator. 
It is well known that madder is so essential to dyers and calico 
printers, that neither business can be carried on without it. The 
consumption of it is so great in England, that, upon a moderate 
computation, more than one hundred and eighty thousand pounds 
sterling is annually paid for what is imported from Holland, exclu- 
sive of their supplies from other parts; and as in a little time 
manufactures of these kinds must, of necessity, progress in Ame- 
rica, the sooner some attention is paid to this article the better. 
The profits arising from its culture would, at present, be very con- 
siderable, perhaps more so than when more generally attended to. 
The land best adapted for the cultare .of madder is a deep 
loamy substantial soil, not too stiff and heavy, nor overly light and 
sandy; this should be twice ploughed in autumn, and left rough 
during winter, that the frost may mellow and pulverize it, then 
ploughed again in April, immediately before planting, taking care 
every time to plough it as deep as possible. 
The time of planting is about the latter end of April, or imme- 
diately when the young buds begin to appear above ground, or as 
soon as possible after. The young shoots are then taken from the 
sides of the mother plants with as much root as possible, and are 
planted in rows three feet asunder, and plant from plant in the 
rows twelve inches distant; observing to plant each slip down to 
its top or crown. 
In the first year of planting madder, it is customary to plant kid- 
ney-beans, lettuces, or other low dwarf-growing crops, between the 
rows; but it is absolutely necessary to keep the ground clean from 
