Daily National Intelligencer

CULTURE OF WOAD.

FROM THE BRUNSWICK TIMES.

Having seen in your paper an extract from the Aurora, giving an account of the uses and cultivation of the Woad plant (or Isatis tinctoria) as a substitute for Indigo, and believing whatever may be found a useful substitute for any foreign article imported into this country, employed in our domestic or family manufactures, tends not only to render us independent of foreign nations, but with some attention may become sources of wealth to our industrious farmers and citizens, I have annexed herewith some further account of this valuable plant, which I should be glad if you will publish for the benefit of my brother farmers, not doubting, that if generally known with what ease this plant is reared and prepared for use, that every lady who is in the habit of making cotton, linen and woollen cloths for private use, would, instead of running to the shop for Indigo, procure a small quantity of the Woad seed and cultivate in her garden a very small spot being sufficient to raise seed enough to sow 2 or 3 acres.

This plant may be sown any time previous to the 1st of Aug. either in the broad cast way, or in the same manner as carrots & parsnips are generally sown, and its leaves are fit for use the summer following. It is biennial. the lower leaves are of an oblong oval figure, thick, ending in obtuse roundish points of a lucid green. The stalks rise about 4 feet high, dividing into several branches, terminated by small yellow flowers. The time for gathering the crop is about the end of June, or whenever the leaves are fully grown, while they are perfectly green If the land be good and the crop well husbanded, it will produce three or four gatherings, but the two first are the best, and will produce 3 or 4 times as much colouring matter as the 3d and 4th crop.

The leaves in the large way are carried directly to the mill, with a stone running on the edge resembling the oil or bark mills, where they are mashed into a smooth paste; if this process were deferred, they would putrify. The paste is then laid in heaps, pressed close & smooth and the blackish crust which forms on the outside, reunited if it happens to crack. after laying for 15 days, the heaps are opened, the crust rubbed and mixed with the inside; it is then formed into balls which are pressed close and solid; these are dried upon hurdles, they turn black on the outside if in the sun, if in a close place yellowish; if the weather is rainy, the first is to be preferred.

The good balls are distinguished by their being weighty, of an agreeable smell, and when rubbed of a violet color within. Woad not only affords a lasting and substantial blue which may be reduced into many different shapes but is of great use in dyeing and fixing many other colors.

In the small way, the leaves may be pounded in a trough or wooden mortar, laid smooth in heaps as above directed, and after laying some days, the outside crust rolled with the inside, and made into small balls, about the size of a coffee cup, in any convenient vessel which will bear pressing strongly, to mould them in; and if the balls happen to crack before they are thoroughly dry, they may be rubbed together, moulded over again, and dried on boards in the sun. Woad and indigo are frequently used in conjunction, which makes a very great saving to the dyers. In dyeing blue with these substances, it is usual to mix 40 lb. Woad, 30 lb. Weld, 20 lb. Madder, 8 or 9 lb lime, and from 10 to 30 lb. Indigo, and a quantity of bran, which are put at different times in a wooden vat, and digested with a strong heat for several hours, after which the substances to be dyed are immersed in the mixture.

Silk, woollen, linen and cotton, are alike dyed with these ingredients, but with some variation of the proportions. A solution of Woad and Indigo in sulphuric acid forms what is called the Saxon blue.

For dyeing yarn in the small way, Woad may be used in the same manner as Indigo; or a proportion of the ingredients before mentioned may be added, but the best color will be produced by using each in the proportion of one ounce of Indigo to twelve ounces Woad; the latter gives solidity and substance to the color, the former brightness.

The Woad was once the great staple of Languedoc, is now cultivated generally in France, Spain, Portugal, Germany Switzerland, Sweden, and in many parts of England, and in the small way in America. The produce of an acre of ground from Woad, may be estimated to be worth from 100 to 200 dollars.

That the farmers and dyers may make trial of the Woad, induces this communication.

A Middlesex Farmer.