New-York daily tribune., 1854-08-29
SI1MAC-OSIERS.

To the Editor Of The A. Y. TJibrne
SIR: was much interested in your review IN TIT:
TRIBUNE of the oath, Of the remarks Of The Ereans
Post on YOUR article relating to the importation OF
Osiers and 1t is really provoking TO see jour
mails make sensless shifts to bolster up rotten theories
of Trade and Commerce. and attempt to discuss qles
tiCDs which they know little or nothing about. fou
might have been far more severe upon Tie post ana
cCmc quito within the truth.
was brought up 10 the Weoen business in West
ern Massachusetts, and have not only cut and cured
but used uns Ofsumao an ingredient for dying The
only why American sumac Is inferior 10 the iui-
ported article is that old gTootS used II 1t s cut
every year and nothing but the new gro saved II
is doubtless equal to that which conc abroad
Foreignors who make il article of Coumerce, cut
cure and sell the growth of each year. that 1t rs full
of coloring matter. We used to cut over our grove
each year. aud thus keeping down. the sprouts were
abundant and Of the first quality Sumac generally
grows in rocky worthless land, and if managed prop
erly will yield more value in sumac than 1t could be
made to produce in any other crop with the addition
of careful aud expensive culture The rocky dels and
worthless hill sides of iampden and Berkshire Coun
ties in Massachusetts, yied Orif properly kept down
,eoud yield all the sumac that the entire State would
use with all her and cloth manufacture; and
il could be cut and cured by berry picking schOoboy
did it before old enough to be of any service in
working ship to import IT, But nine -tenths Of the
rural population whose children industriously pick
blackberrers and whOrtleberries to buy straw hats
and school-bOOks, not that sumac s Of any
earthly use and would gladly avail themselves OF it's
profit if informed
1t should be cut just before frost comes and cured
like corn.stalks, and when dry, cut by means OF a
straw-cuting machine leaves sticks and all and put
into sacks for market or it might be ground fine in
bark mill If cut close To the ground, several sprouts
will grow, four feet high, from the stump in season.
This is the sumac of commerce.
In respect to the osers willow for baskets, de-
sire to say everybody knows that willows are as abm-
dant Of growth, ard are regarded much of nul-
sance around courses as s in hill pastures.
Why import that which costs much tireless labor
to destroy Why not il with the labor that
it now costs 10 destroy 1t !
There is German in this city living within stone =
throw of my store who hires the farmers in the neigh
boring counties 10 cut and bundle up their willows for
him and sink them in the brook until he wants them.
In April May and June he and all his children down
TO iour-year olds, busy engaged in stripping the
bark and preparing stock for their years work. But
does il pay The farmers doubtless satisfied with
the compensation he gives for they bring him cart
loads and smile over the gold he gives them in
change for otherwise worthless willow sticks" But
does pay the German to make them up into baskets
lie landed in Philadelphia fifteen years ago with only
five dollars in his pocket; he has reared nine children
done no other business but make willow baskets, and
is worth to-day the house he lives and works in, and
has heeRy thousand dollars in the Savings Bank II
sefms TO pay. | have often thought, | have seen
this family stripping their willow twigs and cartine
away Cat cost loads of the tough bark, why might
not be used for the manufacture OF paper. am con.
fdent il would pay-surey il would be very valuable
as article OF manure. But perhaps I've Pos. would
think il better to import the material for paper OF
manure, than to native article which at present
| is but rubbish under our feet. SIGNA.
Philadelphia, Aug. e, 1884