VoL. II. AUGUSTA, GA, APRIL 17, 1844. No. 8. 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
For the Southern Cultivator. 
CULTURE AND PREPARATION OF INDIGO FOR 
MARKET. 
On this subject, Mr, Editor, I belie v^e no com- 
munication to the public has been made through 
your interesting and useful paper. The Indigo 
is peculiarly adapted to our soil and climate, 
and indeed cme species of it is indigenous in the 
Southern States, The pigment prepared from 
this, is believed to be of a superior quality to 
that obtained from the foreign plant. For do- 
mestic purposes, it has been always used by the 
farmers ol the country, in its wild and unculti- 
vated state. Under the Colonial Government, 
Indigo was extensively cultivated in South 
Carolina, and was a source of wealth to the 
planters on the Santee, and its tributaries. Its 
cultivation, however, was almost entirely aban- 
doned alter the introduction ol Cotton ; and lit- 
tle is now known of the mode of culture, and its 
preparation lor market. Cotton has, at length, 
been pushed to the utmost extent of its produc- 
tiveness ; and the foreign demand lor it affords 
to the cultivator but a small remuneration for 
the labor and capital employed. 
The period, therefore, has arrived, when we 
should examine into our resources, and follow 
up, with renewed activity and zeal, the multi- 
plied channels, through which our industry and 
enterprise might successfully extend their pur- 
suits. Let the Planters of the Sooth, in time, 
and before the evil day arrives when the pro- 
duction of this great staple shall have over- 
reached its consumption and demand, withdraw 
a portion ol their active capital Irom its cultiva- 
tion, and direct it to other objects. Happily for 
us. many objects of encouraging pursuits alrea- 
dy present themselves. The manufacture of 
Sugar from the Cornstalk, may be considered as 
fully realized. The rearing of stock to an ex- 
tent adequate to the home demand, has been 
proved, by judicious experiments, to be entirely 
within the power of the Southern Farmer. 
The fabrication of the Cotton into domestic 
clothing, by the aid of the hand-spinning ma- 
chine and the flying shuttle, may be profitably 
effected, without any considerable diversion of 
labor from the general business of the farm. 
Almost all the necessaries of life, and many ol 
its luxuries, are attainable by means, within the 
reach of every tiller ol the soil, through his own 
resources. All these may be accomplished 
with few sacrifices, and at a trifling expendi- 
ture. Let the system, then, be practically car- 
ried out by all, and there will be little danger of 
our surplus Cotton wanting a foreign market; 
and less ground lor apprehending pecuniaiy 
embarrassments and distress, under casual de- 
pression of prices. 
The Southern Planter, who thus husbands 
his resources, and wisely employs all the means 
which the God of Nature has placed within his 
control, is truly the independent sovereign of all 
he surveys, and is more above the reach of con- 
tingencies than the monarch upon his throne. 
Permit me, Mr. Editor, to call the attention 
of a portion, at least, of the Cotton Planters, to 
the cultivation of the Indigo ; and, through your 
paper, to communicate such information on the 
subject, as I have been able to procure from the 
best authorities. I write not from my own ex- 
perience. The directions for preparing the pig- 
ment, I obtained, many years ago, from an old 
and respectable Planter in South Carolina. 
The manuscript which he delivered to me, was 
from the pen of one who had been extensivly 
engaged in the cultivation and preparation of 
Indigo lor market, before the Revolution. It 
has never been published ; and may, therefore, 
impart inlormation on a process little known by 
the present generation. 
The pigment, or dyeing substance of the In- 
digo, is obtained Irom the leaves. There are 
several species of this plant. The Indigofera 
tinctona, or French Indigo, yields the greatest 
quantity, and is cultivated in India; but the 
quality is inferior to the Indigofera argentea, or 
wild Indigo. The former is distinguished by 
its pinnate leaves, the smaller ribs expanding 
from the principal rib like the feathers of a 
quill, similar to the leaves ol the pear, and of 
the lime-tree, and by a more slender, ligneous 
stem. It rises, in a rich soil, and when well 
cultivated, to the height of six fee . 
The seeds are sown as early in the spring as 
the climate and season will warrant. In the 
West Indies, the planting commences in March, 
in trenches about a foot asunder ; and the weed 
is cut down in May. In South America, six 
months elapse before it can be cut. In the for- 
mer, generally four cuttings are obtained of the 
same plant in the course of a year; but, in the 
latter, never more than two, and often only one. 
The cutting takes place when the plant is in 
blossom, and is done with the sickle. Fresh 
plantings of the seed are required yearly. 
Commence the cutting of the weed in the 
evening, in time to have the steeper set before it 
is dark. The plants are laid in strata, and 
pressed down by weights. When a sufficient 
quantity of them are laid, pour in watei to the 
height of about four inches above them. One 
inch and a half above the surface of the water 
bore a hole through the side of the vat, and di- 
rectly oV’Cr the trough, which is to convey the 
liquor into the beater. When the fermentation 
has commenced, the liquor will rise and run 
over. Let it remain until the stream has ceas- 
ed, or nearly so. This, in hot weather, will be 
from ten to fourteen hours after the water has 
been poured upon the weed, or on the following 
morning. Immediately oS into the beat- 
er, and commence the agitation. Continue this 
for about twenty minutes, and then let in the 
lime-water, until you have plenty of grain, but 
not very coarse. The agitation must be car- 
ried on, and frequent use be made of the plate. 
As soon as a change in the color is perceived, 
from a muddy green to a purple or blue, the 
beating should cease. This operation usually 
requires an hour. There can be no certain rule 
as to the quantity of lime-water to be used, or 
the length ol time for continuing the agitation. 
If the Indigo be not sufficiently steped, it will 
require more lime-water, and longer beating, 
and vice versa. Having obtained the fine blue 
tint you wish, stop the agitation, and pour in an 
additional quantity of lime-water, which will 
cause the grains to collect and settle in a short 
time. Be careful, however, not to add so much 
as to give the liquor a yellow or red tinge : it 
should be of a clear, but pale green. As the 
sediment subsides, commence drawing off the 
water through the upper plugs, and so onto 
each successively, until the mud alone remains 
at the bottom of the vat or beater. In the even- 
ing, this should be removed into the drainer, 
and by the morning following, it will be well 
drained and cracked ; which it should be before 
it is taken out. Having first pressed out the 
water remaining in it, work up the mud ; give 
it a second pressure, and work it up again until 
it becomes stiff. After this, submit it to a third 
pressure, for cutting. Should your Indigo in- 
cline to mould, on the drying boards, as it is 
apt to do in rainy or damp weather, the mould 
must be wiped ofl’; otherwise it may turn to a 
grey color. Let it remain upon the drying- 
boards until you plainly see the quality; after- 
wards, it may be put up in small barrels. In 
continued damp weather, during the manipu- 
lating and drying process, put the greenish In- 
digo in the sun, and turn it frequently. As soon 
as it begins to crack, take it in. 
Good Indigo is known by its lightness, or 
small specific gravity, indicating the absence of 
earthy impurities ; by the mass not readily part- 
ing with its coloring matter, when tested by 
drawing a streak with it over a white surface • 
