THE DYERS’ WEED. 
73 
seared up by these extremes in exposed situations. It 
was, and is yet, I believe, cultivated in England for the 
use of the dyer. We import it, however, into Bristol 
from France ; and it sells in that city for ten shillings 
per cwt. in a dry state. It gives a fine, permanent, yel- 
low color to cottons, silks, and woollens, in a variety of 
shades, by the aid of alum, &c. A blue tincture changes 
these to as fine a green. Injury has certainly been oc- 
casioned by writers on agricultural affairs recommend- 
ing, without due inquiry, the culture of this or that 
crop ; and I would not incur a censure that I blame in 
another; yet I cannot but suggest the possible profit 
that might arise from the culture of this plant. If for- 
eigners derive sufficient encouragement to import it, 
notwithstanding the charges of freight, port duties, and 
various consequent expenses, why can it not be grown 
with us, and afford superior remuneration, not having 
such deductions to diminish the profits ? The culture 
of it seems very simple, the manner of conducting the 
crop, and harvesting the product, attended with little 
trouble or risk. Marshal # prefers a good soil ; others 
again say, that it becomes stalky in a rich soil. With 
us it grows luxuriantly, three or four feet high, on a 
thin, stony, undressed soil, apparently the very station 
it prefers ; and we have about us much land of this kind, 
not intrinsically worth ten shillings an acre. It might 
be rash to predict the amount of a crop in such soils, 
but a ton to an acre is said to be but a small allowance ; 
yet the produce of only this quantity, which would pro- 
cure in the market a return of 10Z. without any expen- 
diture for manure, no more manual labor after the seed 
j is sown, for nine months, than three thinnings, and 
cleanings with the hoe, and the crop harvested within 
the year, would be no trifling profit, and may be deserv- 
ing of some consideration. f The bark, the wood, the 
j flower, the leaves of many of our native trees and plants 
j afford a yellow dye ; we have no color so easily pro- 
duced as this is ; and it is equally remarkable, that, 
* Rural Economy of Norfolk, 
t Article Reseda, in Encyclopaedia Britannica. 
G 
