An essay on the culture and manufacture of indigo : to which was awarded the prize of eight hundred rupees by the Madras Government, 1860 / by John Shortt.

  • Shortt, John.
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the culture and manufacture of indigo : to which was awarded the prize of eight hundred rupees by the Madras Government, 1860 / by John Shortt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    G Ploughing and manuring. The mode of culture followed by the native cultivator is that of The mode of cultivation by frce]y ploughing up dry or garden land, and Natives. manuring the ground in one or other of the following methods : — A flock of sheep or goats is sometimes enclosed on the ground intended to be sown with Indigo for a few nights previously, at an average of 200 head per eawnie. At other times the ground is lightly scattered with wood- ashes, cow-dung, Ac.; and at others, the refuse of the Indigo plant from the steeping vat, or its ashes, is scattered over the fields. The first method is no doubt the best, for both the dung and urine of the animals are secured ; but the advantage thus gained is partly lost by the subse- quent exposure to the beat of the sun, which dissipates the most essential or volatile ingredients contained in them, leaving nothing hut the unde- composable rubbish on the fields. As a general rule Indigo fields are not irrigated—the Native cultiva- tor depending for the success of his crop upon Irrigation not practised. ^ periodjfflal ra;[ls The seed is generally broad cast, and when the seedlings attain the height of two or three inches, the fields are weeded ; this is sometimes done a second and a third time. The sickle is brought into play at the end of the third month after sowing, when, the plants bloom. It is soon made up into bundles about seven feet in girth and sold to the manufacturer, usually at the rate of seven bundles per rupee. On the arrival of the bundles at the factory, which by previous arrangement take place about 10 a.m., they are Stacking. stacked into what is termed the “ steeping vat, and pressed down by large beams which arc firmly bolted to upright iron rods or stone posts, buried partly in the ground. A' ater is then let into the vat so as to stand a couple of inches stcepins- above the plant. In this manner it is allowed to macerate from eighteen to twenty hours, by which time a kind of mucous fermentation will have taken place : the fluid is then let out by the removal of certain plugs into the heating \at, Beating’ where it is beaten with oars or paddles for a couple of hours. Lime-water in proportionate quantity is then throw n in, and the fluid allowed to settle for a couple of hours. During this time the fecula precipitates to the bottom of the yat ; the plugs are now Sowing. ‘Weeding. Cutting. Gathering. Market value of plant.