Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-04-24
THE INDIGO PLANT.
How the beautiful Dye II Obtained
by Indian NntixeE

by Indian Natives
Indigo. the most beautiful and expen-
sive OF all dyes in common use. has
ever been closely related to India. as
its name implies.
From India the ancient Greeks and
Romans drew supplies of the blue dye.
and, although il was lost 10 Europe
during the greater part OF the middle
ages. enormous quantities have been
imported for commercial purposes dur
Ing the last 100 years
Indigo Is cultivated all over India.
giving employment TO millions OF ma
uves and thousands OF foreigners In
three districts alOge I'm Behar. where
some OF the finest indigo is grown. Eu-
ropean capital is invested to the ex-
tent OF no less than $4,000. 900 Some
10000 acres are under cultivation
There are 200 Englishmen managing
and working ON the concerns" Is the
factories and plantations are always
called. and 100000 natives.
An indigo concern may occupy any
where between 1000 and 10000 acres.
each cultivated acre producing on an
average about - 20 2O pounds OF indi-
go.
The plant grows TO a height of be-
tween three and five feet Ii Is in the
leaves that the color yielding matter
chiefly resides. they being AT their full
est at the time when the flower buds
are about to bloom. hat The Leaf. Of n
ycllowiSh Green color. gives no indica-
ton OF containing anything which will
yield "A blue coloring matter
Toward fhs, ,rtI of F,.,,..
as the monsoon has sct ina. the crop *
cut, and the work of manufacturing
commences. The first manufacturing
called 'morhum mahai." lasts general
ly 10 the middle Of August BY this
time the stems which have been cut
have shot up again. and i'm September
second crop is taken from the same
plants Sometimes three crops are
taken in one season.
In most concerns the simple. print
tive processes OF manufacture are still
adhered TO. for planters and old hands
are strong believers i'm the original true
blue and Will have nothing 10 do with
newfanglcd ideas and chemical admix-
lures.
Every day the watts in which the
plants are StcCped-the first process Of
manufacture-arc cleaned out bv coo
lies The plant is stacked upright 20 al.
low air 10 escape and is kept I'm posi-
ton by long pieces Of bamboo. Then
water is run into the vat which. how
ever. Is not quite filled. since the plant
expands. eXerting an enormous pres
sure that might easily crack the watts
sides.
The plant takes a long while 10 soak.
The leaves are not easily wetted
When the plants have been STEPPED
for about ten hours the color yielding
matter will have been extracted. The
liquid is now run OF into lower or
beating" watts, and the extracted
plant. or sect" is taken cut. 10 be
subsequently, employed To fertil.ze new
crops. The running liquid varies in
color from bright orange 20 olive green.
Ii is necessary that Il shall be kept in
n state Of violent agitation.
The frOJh is 1T first blue then white.
and soon disappears. The liquid after
passing through various color changes.
turns from green TO dark. rich indigo
blue. The overseer. 10 test whether
the heating process is sufficient. takes
a. A+NNiN AAlAtN anu llONl~ u OA4 TO Il lllAO.
If the grain. or "fecula." readily set
ties. leaving n clear fluid. the heaters
jump from the vat or the wheel is stop
ped.
After beating the fecula is allowed
70 settle for two or three hours. and
then the water is run OF The grain is
collected. passed through various
strainers. whence 1t flows into a well
and is elevated by a steam injector TO
an iron tank. Ii is now boiled 10 pre-
vent any further fermentation. and
then the hot. concentrated stuff is run
through strainers on 10 a filter table.
The resulting pulpy paste. not unlike
colored whipped cream, is pressed and
cut into small cakes each stamped
with the mark OF the factory. the date
and the number of the days boiling
The cakes are put away TO dry on BAN.
boo shelves. being carefully busted and
turned every few days until ready for
packing.-Pearson'S Magazine.