Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-10-18
Cultivation OF American Indigo.

Cultivation Of American Indigo
TIE sulphate of indigo (chymic)is used in
great quantities for coloring silk and wooden
goods, and fine sheepskins. 1t is the prin.
cipal coloring ingredient for light blues and
greens. 1t is made by dissolving finely pull
verified indigo in pure strong sulphuric
acid. The very best Of indigo is required
for its manufacture, because inferior indigo
requires more sulphuric acid while it gives
out far less coloring matter, thereby invol-
wing loss Of material in connection with
an inferior product. III indigo contains
more or less lime, but the inferior kind the
most /; this is the reason why is takes up
more suIphuric acid to manufacture an in.
ferior chymic.
At the present moment, and for the past
two years, the supply of the first quality Of
indigo has not been equal to the demand
for it, and that demand is constantly increa.
sing. Some very excellent indigo, well
adapted for making chymic, used to be OBJ
tanned from Gautamala, but the kind most
esteemed is the first quality Of Bengal, for
which We are dependent on a colony Of
Great Britain. About twelve years ago, the
best Bengal indigo could be obtained, but
at present it is almost unknown in the
market. A spurious article, however much
resembling it, is abundent, but it does not
possess one half the coloring matter Of the
genuine. and yet it is sold at retail price
varying from six to fourteen shillings per
pound.
Our object is to direct the attention Of
our southern planters to the cultivation of
the indigo plant, and the manufacture of
the best kinds of indigo. for inferior kinds
are by far too plentiful.
About sixty years ago-and within that
period some very fine qualities of indigo
used to be cultivated in South Carolina !;
its character was much higher than the
finest Gautamala or the best Bengal, but it
is now unknown in the arts to the regret
Of calico printers, dyers, and leather dress.
ers. In the fermentation Of the indigo
plant 50 much oxygen is absorbed that its
was found to be very injurious
to tho health ofihe negroes on the planta-
tons this was one reason for giving up
its culture and another, and perhaps the
strongest, was the higher profits derived
from the cultivation Of cotton. It appears
to Us now, however, that with the exercise
Of sufficient care, the health ofthe negroes
may be maintained a. we'll as in the rice
culture also that the price which could
now be Obtained for il would be very remu-
nerstive. There are hundreds Of persons
ia our country who would rather pay two
dollars per pound for the best kind Of indigo
that quality which was manufactured at
one time in South Carolina, or the kind
that was sold for the best Bengal twelve
years ago-than that which is sold for sew
enty.five cents per pound. We think these
ought to induce some of our
planters to engage in the cultivation Of the
finest qualities Of indigo.
Since our planters have beat all the eff.
forts Of the East India Company to rival
hem in the cultivation Of cotton, It appears
to Us that their honor is somewhat 1t stake
10 regain their lost reputation in the cult.
ration Of indigo.-Seientiee American.