The Virginia Gazette

To the PRINTER, &c.

SIR,

Surry County, Virginia.

As the planting and manufacturing of Indigo may be of great Consequence to this Colony, your inserting the few following Hints will greatly oblige

Yours,

Fema Matthaa.

One Bushel of Seed will plant even eight Acres of Land, which Quantity may be manufactured by one Set of Vats, the Steeper 18 Feet square, 4 Feet deep, the Battery 18 Feet by 10, and 4 Feet deep.

Plant the Beginning of April, but may be re-planted until the Middle of May; about the Middle of July it is generally fit for cutting; our Rule is, when the Bottom Pod is grown pretty large, and the Seed in them beginning to be hard.

Put the Weed in the Steeper lightly, and nail it fast on; it must be kept from floating, when the Water is put into it, by ratchet Wood laid across it at about 8 or 10 Inches Distance from each other.

When the Color of the Leaf is changed from the Green to a Yellowish, and growing very thin, then let the Liquor into the Battery.

Beat about Half an Hour, and let in clear Lime Water not very strong, until you perceive it full of Grain, that's large and fluffy, then stop your Lime Water, and beat the Liquor until the Grain is grown very small, so that at first looking at it in a Pewter Plate or Cup you can scarcely perceive any, then it's beat enough.

Let it settle 10, 12, or more Hours in the Battery, then draw the Water from it as clear as possible, and the Mud that remains take out and put into Hogsheads, or other large Vessels, where it must remain as long as in the Battery, and the Water drawn from it again, after which fill the Indigo into thick strong Oznabrigs Bags, of about a Yard in Length, the Width of the Oznabrigs which you must place in a Trough made of a convenient Width to contain them, and as long as you please, with a Grate at the Bottom, to prevent the Bag touching it; when the Bags in the Trough is filled let them drain one or two Hours, and let them lay a Board the Breadth of the Trough over them, and lay on Weights by Degrees, until the Bags are well slackened, then take off the Weights, turn the Bags double, and press again as much or more than before; this Process must be completed in 24 Hours.

Take the Indigo from the Bags and put it into Boxes, of about 4 Feet long, from 12 to 18 Inches wide and 2 Inches deep; put the Boxes in the Sun; the Indigo which is pretty thick when put into Boxes must be immediately mashed by Hands, until it is all of the same Consistence, and cut in Pieces of 4 Inches square, which Pieces, when they are so much dried by the Sun that they may be handled without sticking to the Fingers much, must, by a Knife, be taken from the Box smoothed and cut into what Size you think proper; let them remain a Day after this in the Sun, from which Time it must be dried, in a shady but dry Place, until fit for Market.