330 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [April, 
tion, that might be cultivated at home, to great advantage; and al- 
though, it does not immediately come within the province of the 
gardener, I cannot let slip the opportunity of giving the best infor- 
mation in my power, for bringing it to perfection. 
The plant has a perennial root, and an annual stalk. The root 
is composed of many long thick succulent fibres; these are joined 
at the top in a head, like the roots of asparagus, and strike very 
deep into the ground, being sometimes more than three feet in 
length. From the upper part, or head of the root, come out many 
side roots, which extend just under the surface of the ground, to a 
great distance, whereby it propagates very fast; for these send up 
a great number of shoots, which if carefully taken off in spring, 
soon after they are above ground, and managed as hereafter direct- 
ed, they become so many plants. These roots are of a dark colour 
on their out-side, 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 op- 
posite, 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 branch- 
ing spikes of campanulate yellow flowers, which are cut into four 
segments. These appear in June, and are followed by roundish, 
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 Rubia 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 fr what is imported from Holland, exclu- 
sive of their supplies from other parts; and as in a little time, manu- 
factures of these kinds, must of necessity, progress in America, the 
sooner some attention is paid to this article, the better. The profits 
arising from its culture, would at present, be very considerable, per- 
haps more so, than when more generally attended to. 
The land best adapted for the culture 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 win- 
ter, that the frost may mellow and pulverize it; then ploughed again in 
