Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-09-04
THE INDIGO COUNTRY.
HOW THE PLANT is GROWN IN
NICARAGUA.

Planting in Trenches Gathering
the Stalks - Process of Fermenta-
ton Varieties of Native Cotton =
The Useful CoyoI Palm.
That portion of Nicaragua which
stretches to the northeast from the shores
of Lake Managua is known as one OF the
best indigo growing districts OF the
world. The climate is cooler than that OF
the Plain Of Leon, and continues grow
ing so as one gradually ascends the
grade until he finds himself on the pla-
teau of Segovia, where the days are al
ways pleasant and the nights cool enough
for fires. But few leagues from Leon,
on every side of the trail and as far as
the eve can reach, a rich, green under
growth covers every cleared space, which
much resembles the tender sprouts OF the
locust tree, and is what the natives call
''iiqilite, or the indigo plant. In plant
ing it the richest soil is carefully cleared
and burnt over; trenches are dug two OF
three inches deep and about foot apart,
into which the seed is thrown and lightly
covered with earth. The planting is
done in May at the close of the dry sea-
son, and the shrub is ready to be cut in
August.
The young bushes have to be carefully
weeded to prevent any other plants from
springing up and mixing with them,
which would injure the quality of tn,
indigo. About the middle of August
the leaves present rough surface and
appear as if covered with green sand,
when the stalk is cut off by the gatherers
few inches above the ground, leaving q
faw sprouts remaining which produce
second crop that is gathered about two
months later The first years result is
usually small; that OF the second year
much greater, and the third years i'm
mense, after which the crop diminishes
again until the seventh year, when the
fields have again to be cleared and
planted.
The cut plants are tied in bundles,
like wheat in the United States, and
carried TO the fermentation vat, where
enough water is allowed to run in to
cover it, then the swelling mas is weight
ed down to steep and ferment. The
only skill required in the manufacture is
TO be able to check the fermentation at
the proper moment, and natives compe-
tent to do so receive from S. to $40 per
day. When the solution of indigo has a
peculiar green color ii is drawn off into
another vat. where it is necessarily agi-
tated and beaten by revolving fans until
II changes from its original green color
to dark blue, and the coloring matter
commences to precipitate. There IS a
species Of ofclimbing plant, or beiuco, 2
an infusion of which greatly facilitates
and quickens this last change.
The water is then drawn off, leaving a
granulated soft blue clay, which is
drained in bags, then dried in the sun,
carefully selected as to quality, and
packed for export in packages Of 100
pounds each, or "ceroons. Forty OF
fifty years ago Nicaragua produced from
1000 to $1,000 ''ceroons" Of indigo pen
annum. but now il may be doubted if the
total annual product exceeds ., 600. Most
of the fine "haciendasn of the high
country are now commencing to gralt
cattle, and though many still remain
where labor is cheap, the indigo farms
are gradually disappearing, and cattle
coffee, and .'cacas'' fields are taking theil
place.
had two natives as guidos-hardy
miners whose homes were in the town o.
Segoyia. They had been absent from
home on the coast for nearly two months
and my mule had to exert himself L
keep them in view. The animal seemed
to know that the Indians were on
guides, for whenever they disappeared
around a turn he would take up a tro
after them, and would not slow down {
a walk until he had them in view ono,
more. The Indians carried nothing bu
i little bag of netting thrown over thu
shoulder containing native cheese, plan
tains, a few dirty "tortillas, and large
/ knives, ''machetes,n with which the!
cut away the brush on the overgrowr
/ trail to enable the mule TO pass.
Close to San Juan de la Mayo, where
we passed our first night, / saw many
I ''cebia' trees. or the cotton bearers o.
I Central America. They are not tall;
saw but few over 20 feet in height, bu
they attain an immense thickness. The.
are of very rapid growth, and, in conse
auence. the wood is lighter and less du
raDle Nndu tne tptNDu-MooN tAtS iVuh'
along the Yellowstone River. 1t pro
duces larger pods, considerably create
in size than chickens egg. that ar
filed with downy substance like fos
silk. which is used in the country as cot
ton is with us. l sent some fine speci
mems to American silk manufacturers t
see if it could not be utilized as an adul
terant for silk, but found that, durini
chemical treatment in manufacture,
lost all its gloss and became worse thai
common cotton in silk.
When the pods on tree have ripene'
and burst, from distance they look lik
the flower in the United States common
ly known as the snow ball. All cotto
cloths manufactured in the country ar
are made from the fruit Of this tree, an
it also takes the place of hair in stuffin
cushions and pillows. In this region
found many other varieties of natur'
floss. which l sent to experts, but the
all lost lustre under necessary chemici
treatment. My Indians must hay
thought me crazy to dismount and gathC
the silken clusters, when they were MOI
common than daisies in hay field; br
a.. l;+tIa l-anr,ad of 4ba vol,a IF cucb