loams; the roots are long and fibrous, and descend to a depth of from two to three feet.  It may be propagated by seed, which, by some, is thought the best method, but the more usual mode is by the division of, and transplanting, the roots.  The ground should be thoroughly and deeply pulverised, clean, and well-manured for the preceding crop, that the manure may be thoroughly rotted and incorporated with the soil:  in April or May the suckers will be fit for taking from the older plantations—­those of two or three years producing the best.  The sets should have roots four or five inches long.  Mark out rows two feet apart, with a line, and set the plant with a dibble, one foot apart in the rows.  The roots should be dipped in a puddle of fine rich earth and water, beaten to the consistence of cream, previous to planting; let the crown of the plant be clearly over ground, and secure the earth well around the root, to keep out drought.  The plantation requires nothing more but to be kept perfectly clean and well-hoed during the summer months; and after the top decays in the autumn, to be earthed up by the plough for the winter, each year, till the plants are three years old, when they are of the proper size and age for lifting, which must be done by trenching the land two feet deep—­several hands accompanying the digger to pick out the roots, which must be thoroughly cleaned and dried on a kiln till they are so brittle as to break across, when they are fit to be packed in bags, and sold to the dye-stuff manufacturers who grind and reduce them to powder for use.  The produce is variable; usually from eight to twenty cwt. per acre, but as much as 3,000 to 6,000 lbs. is frequently obtained.  The forage amounts to about 15,000 lbs. the first year, and 7,500 lbs. the second year.  In a new and good soil manure may be dispensed with for the first crop.  Some cultivators interline and grow other crops between the rows, but the best cultivators state that such a practice is objectionable.  The breadth of land under this crop in England is much reduced, in consequence of the reduction in price from the competition of the Dutch growers.

Madder is extensively grown on the central table land of Afghanistan, forming one of the leading products of Beloochistan.; and, according to Mr. Pottinger, it sells in the Kelat Bazaar at about 10 lbs. for 2s.  The cultivation there pursued is as follows:—­The ground is repeatedly ploughed, and laid out finally in small trenches, in which the seed is sown, covered slightly with earth, and then the whole is flooded.  Whilst thus irrigated, the trenches are filled with a mixture of rich manure and earth.  The plants appear in about ten days, and attain a height of three or four feet during the first summer.  They are cut down in September and used as fodder for cattle.  Subsequently, and until spring arrives, the ground is manured and repeatedly flooded.  During the second year’s growth, the plants which are intended to produce seed are set apart, but the stems of the remainder are cut every four or six weeks, in order to increase the size and goodness of the roots.