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PLANTS USEFUL IN AGRICULTURE.
It is a perennial plant, and found wild in great abundance nearGuildford, where great quantities might be gathered for use, and■where a great deal of the seed could be collected. Its culture is verysimilar to that of the Teazle, with this difference, it requires the hoeat work constantly all the summer months.
The two plants Weld and YVoad from the similarity of names arefrequently confounded with each other, and some of the best agricul-tural writers have fallen into this error. Tbey are two very differentplants, and ought to he well defined, being each of them of very ma-terial consequence in this country.
98. LINUM usitaHssimum. Tiax, or "Lint-seed. —Is grown for thepurpose of making cloth, and has been considered a very profitablecrop. The culture and management is similar to that of Hemp, andthe seeds are in great demand for pressing. Lintseed oil, which it pro-duces, is much used by painters, and is the only vegetable oil thatis found fit for such purposes in general. The seeds are of several usesto the farmer ; a tea is made of it, and mixed with skimmed milk, forfattening house-lambs and calves. Oxen are often fattened on theseed itself; but the cakes alter the oil is expressed are a very commonand most excellent article for fattening both black cattle and sheep.These are sold at from 10/. to [61. per thousand.
It will require three bushels of Flax-seed for one acre, as it mustbe sown thick on the laud. Lintseed cake has been used also for ma-nure; and I have seen fine crops of Turnips where it has been powderedand sown in the drills with the seed.
99. RESEDA htteola. Dyfr's-Weed, or Weld. —Is often confoundedwith Woad, but is altogether a very different plant. Weld is cultivatedon the chalky hills of Surry, being sown under a crop of Barley, and thesecond year cleaned by hoeing, and then left to grow till it blooms,when it is pulled and tied up in small bundles, and after drying is sentto market, where it is purchased for dyeing yellow, and is in great re-quest.
100. RUBIA tinctoria. Madder. —This very useful dyeing drugused to be grown in this country in considerable quantities, but it isnot cultivated here at the present time. The principal part of whatis used now is brought from Holland, and affords a considerable articleof trade to he Dutch farmers. Those who wish to be informed of themode of culture may consult Professor Martyn's edition of Miller'sDictionary.
Some years since Sir Henry Knglefield, Bart., obtained a premiumfrom the Society of Arts for the discovery of a fine tint drawn fromMadder, called the Adrianople red. It was fonnd that it was to beobtained from a variety of the Rubia brought from Smyrna; and Mr.Smyth, our consul at that city, was prevailed on by Dr. Charles Taylorto procure seeds from thence, which the Society did me the honour ofcommitting to my care; and 1 have now a considerable stock of that