Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 46.djvu/673

Rh a fortnight, and grew rapidly, requiring nice and frequent hoeing and weeding. The plants were usually cut three or four times in the season. Whenever the plant was in full bloom it required to be cut down without regard to height, as the leaves were then thick and full of juice.

The plants were cut with a reaping hook and carried to the macerating vat, also called the "steeper." This, as well as a second vat called the "beater," was "made of the best cypress or yellow-pine planks, well fastened to the joints and studs by spikes and then calked."

When the steeper was furnished with a sufficient quantity of weed, clean water was poured in, and the weeds were left to steep or macerate until all the coloring matter was extracted. The weed was laid regularly in the steeper with the stalk upward, and upon it long rods were fastened lengthwise in the vat to prevent its buoying up when the water was pumped in. Soft water was needed for the purpose, and the quantity must be just enough to cover all the weed. This process of "steeping" or fermentation usually took from twelve to fifteen hours.

The fluid was then drawn off into the beater, where it was agitated violently until all the coloring matter was united in a body. The usual contrivance for this purpose consisted of an axle, to which were attached long arms, each furnished with a small bucket at the end. The laborer would place himself upon the vat, and work the axle with a handle or crank, causing the buckets to rise and fall rapidly in the liquid. This process of "beating" required great nicety, for if not continued long enough a part of the tingeing matter remained in the water; if continued too long, a part of that which had separated was dissolved afresh.

Du Bose tells us: "I can well remember how often in the process the liquor was taken up in a plate and anxiously examined in the rays of the sun to ascertain whether all the particles of dye were separated; for if not, the result would be a failure; the bright true-blue color would not be obtained, and the value of the drug would be impaired."

Lime was then applied, which assisted in the separation of the water from the indigo. The whole was allowed to rest eight or ten hours, until the blue matter had thoroughly settled. The clean water was then drawn off by cocks in the sides, at different heights, and the blue part was discharged by a cock in the bottom into another vat. It was strained through a horsehair sieve, and afterward put into bags "made of osnaburgs, eighteen inches long and twelve inches wide," and suspended for six hours to drain. After this, the mouths of the bags being well fastened, they were put into a press to complete the removal of the water.

The indigo had now become a fine stiff paste which was cut