CULTURE OF THE GENUS RESEDA. 
143 
ARTICLE VIII — CULTURE OF THE GENUS RESEDA. 
There are twenty species of Reseda known to botanists, of which 
probably half are not worth cultivation; some are ornamental, and 
others delightfully fragrant. The dyers’ weed (Reseda luteola ) is 
much cultivated for its colouring properties. “It affords a beautiful 
yellow dye for cottons, woollen, silk, and linen. Blue cloths are 
dipped in a decoction of it in order to become green. The yellow 
colour of the paint called Dutch-pink is obtained from this plant. 
The entire plant when it is about flowering is pulled up for the use 
of the dyers, who employ it both fresh and dried. 
“ The seeds are usually sown after barley is taken off the ground 
in autumn, or it is very commonly sown with barley in the spring; 
but the first mode is the best, because the plants make some progress 
the first year, and in the following season they will be twice the size 
of those sown in the spring. 
“After the ground has been well ploughed and harrowed, the seeds 
should be sown broadcast, of which one gallon is sufficient for an 
acre. Unless the ground be very poor, it will not require any dung. 
The best crops, however, will be the result of drilling and cultivating 
the crop alone. The drills may be a foot apart, and the plants six 
inches distance, in the rows. The plants should be kept clear of 
weeds by hoeing. 
“When seeds are required, a small portion should be left stand¬ 
ing for the purpose, and the plants should be pulled up as the seeds 
ripen. The whole crop may be cleared off before the time of sowing 
wheat, which is the best crop to follow dyers’ weed. 
“ The crop is taken by pulling the entire plant; some pull it when 
in flower, others pull it earlier; the last appears to be the best. In 
the execution of the work, the plants are drawn up by the roots in 
small handfuls, and set up to dry, after being tied with one of the 
stalks; sometimes, however, they become sufficiently dry without 
being set up, by turning. These, after they have been completely 
dried, are tied up into bundles and sold by the name of Weld-cord. 
“ The demand for it is sometimes very little, while at others it is 
so great as to raise the price to a high degree. 
“ The herb is sometimes gathered green, and treated like woad or 
indigo; but in general the dried herb is used by the dyers in a state 
of decoction. The chief disease of weld is the mildew, to which it is 
very liable when young; and this is one reason why it is often sown 
with other crops*.” 
* Don’s Miller’s Dictionary. 
