Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-10-09
From the Galveston Civilian.
Indigo,

injury Of the community.
From the Galveston Civilian.
Indigo.
1t is apprehended that the in India will cut short
the supply and greatly enhance the price of this article
1t IS one OF more Importance than many persons sup
pose although it has ceased to hold the important place
which it did in the products of the United States.
The species OF Indigo most commonly cultivated in In
dia is, we believe native of the tropical regions of
America although there many varieties of the plant,
more or less in favor in different districts The enter
prise, energy and intelligence of the English aided by
the cheap labor of the natives were the means of rem
derng the production Of this article in the East Indies
more profitable than in America, and thus driving the
industry of our planters into other channels.
Indigo grows best on lands recently cleared as it
quires good deal of moisture it also requires protec
ton from high Winds and irrigation in times of drought
1t needs rain particularly when the young plant has just
appeared above the ground. 1t thrives best, while
growing. in damp cloudy weather, though sunshine is
requisite to develop fully its coorng properties The
cultivation of the plant requires less labor than the gath
erng and preparation of the crop The coorng matter
is obtained from the leaves When ready for gathering
they assume dark green color. The branches contain
ing them then severed from the main sem the leaves
dried in the sun, beaten off, and placed under shelter
With favorable weather. other branches and leaves put
forth, and treated in similar manner until three or
four pickngs have been secured, when repanting be-
comes necessary. The leaves after drying STEPPED
in six times their volume of water the water after
ed off, boiled, strained and allowed to ferment when,
having been sufficiently evaporaed the Indigo is beaten
and moulded The entire process is too nice and tedious
for description here.
Dr. Leber attributes the superiority of East India
Indigo mainly to the improved process of manufacture
pursued in that country, and says that the American
which sell at less than half the price, can be made equal
to the foreign article with proper and attention.
In 1929 the american Journal of Science estimated the
value Of Indigo consumed i'll the United States at two
millions Of doars-the quantity being as many pounds
Of which tenth 100000 lbs were then of Ameri
can growth, and worth only 80 cts per h., while the
foreign worth from 81 to | 25 The average pro-
duct of Indigo in South Carolina is said to be so pounds
per acre. though four times that quantity has times
been produced.
British India, for some years. has furnished more than
three quarters of the Indigo of commerce If that sup
ply should now entirely be cut off it is difficult to say
how far prices may advance or what impulse may be
given to its cultivation in the southern States. There
be doubt that Texas is well calculated for its
growth any other State. There are doubtless some
old CaroIinans among us who are familiar with it's
growth and preparation for market.
| SCHOONER Ell DoRADo-One of the most remarka-
bic facts connected with the loss of the steamer Central
America (says the Boston Traveler is that of an eff
ccnt clipper schooner In good order being so near the
of disaster, and knowing the position where the
steamer when she went down, being unable to find
single one OF the persons who Oated the fragments
of the wreck for several hours while another vessel
which did not see the steamer and did not know OF the
disaster sailed among those perishng for hours and
without any boat rescued fortynine of them There is
something lneXplcabe about it and if the lOgbook of
the schooner did not confirm the statements Of those
board should deem them incredible If the per-
mitted the three boats of the steamer to 60 three four
miles to the brig Marine, and of them to return to
the steamer again and back to the brig, and afterwards
to allow the barque to cruise around and pull many
with buoys and lines out of the water it certainly
reasonable to suppose that the schooner with skful
management might have been got near enough to afford
help. 1t must have been that the captain made great
mistake in the course which he pursued.
| Mr.. w. F. Fletcher, of Bloomfield Maine passen-
ger in the Central America who rescued by the
barque Ellen, states that the FL Dorado did not lie by
the Central America, but kept her after hav-
ing hailed her. Mr.. Fletcher not rescued until be-
tween six and o'clock the next morning being the
last but two of those picked up. At that time schOon-
er in sight at great distance. Mr. Fletcher thinks
it very strange that Capt Stone, if he remained near
the place where the Central America went down. did not
discover any of the of who were floating in
the water during the night.
The SUGAR-CANE IN TExAs-Geo. w Kendall, who
owns ranch in Texas and has been very successful in
raising the Chinese sugarcane writes to the New Or
leans Picayune as follows:
"Many of my friends in this section are sangune that
this new grain plant will drive all others out of the
ground that will at least effect perfect revolution
in the way of farming in Western Texas They are
ing the seed to plant for bread and they are making
srup and sugar of the juice of the stalk they feed
ing it out as green fodder and saving it for dry No
part OF it is wasted cattle horses sheep, and hogs eat
it clean, from the ground upwards when the stalk srpe
and gain strength and grow fat upon it. An immense
quantity Of it will be planted next year
great demand for mechanics exists at present in
Memphis, Tenn Rrickayers and carpenters, especial
y, are in great request. The city is growing rapidly