The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-19

4
. IT'S CULTIvATfOSsiN stCILY -p0Lrgtcs-
PUBLIC DfSCUSsts,N.3 ~ n s',EGE Il
tSerresroadeaec of TIN Richmond Dfspafch1
LOUISA CouRTHorsE, Va,
september IS, 1872.
Few small towns In Virginia have made
more progress than the county-seat of Lou
isa--or" Ioui5y,o as one Of It's s.iron-ciad y
posttnaSters is accustomed 10 write Il when
his deputy Is out OF the way.
a number of new houses have been erect
ed. ,iiany of the old ones have been remod-
ellcd, and the w,ins.brush has done most ex.
ccllent work.
There are M ample number Of stores here.
which drive u brisk trade with the surround.
ing country, but IA tailor, wheelwright,
blacksmith. and other mechanics, are very
much necded, ~ -s-s
.... THE BROUGHT
has very CRAFTY damaged the Cnrn and tobacco
crops i'll this section. bit more will be made
than was at enc time anticipated. ~,
In the olden time Louisa was noted for
her splendid tobacco. and supported some
dozen factories, which turned out Eiyoriie
brands. There are now only three factories
in the county. but Others will revive as the
tax is taken of.
The people ares however, resorting to
other means Of livelihood not dreamed of BY
our fathers. Near the Courthouse are four
steam Saw-milS, which supply large amount
Of lumber for the Churcsl-IIill tunnel and
Richmond market. I'D at Frederick's Hall
depot there is mill which converts the
crop Of s,isSafras, for which this county has
been long famous, into an excellent article of
oil. Aud both ut Frederick's Hall and the
Courthouse there are ~
suMAc MILLS al
which afford market for all of this new arti-
Gle Of commerce which Cuffce can Tor will
pick.
The mill at the Courthouse and its attached
warehouse is one of the largest in the state,
being two hundred feet long, and is driven
by Il thirty-6ve-horse power steam engine,
which also drives q corn, bark, and plaster
mill. During this drought persons have
come to this mill for meal from twenty-five
to forty miles. .,..
| have obtained from an intelligent officer
of the Milling Company here some details in
reference to
THE suMAC TRADE
which may be of interest to tile public. There
are now in Virginia seventeen sumac mills,
located in Winchester, Alexandria, Culpeper,
Louisa. Richmond, Fredericksburg, Peters
burg. and King and Queen. Last year these
mills ground about 6,000 tons, OH which they
realized an average of $50 per ton, or $780,
eco for the whole.
The crop in the region of these mills is
short this year. for the reason that it has not
been properly gathered during the past years,
since Cutiee Nor he has been the chief ga
therer). in his eaGerness to get pay for large
quantities, has been accustomed to tear up
the branches. Instead of contentlng himself
with gathering simply the leaves. The re-
suit i. that. while sumac is very abundant
in counties out Of the range of these mills,
the supply does not now meet the demand in
the sections where it has been hitherto
sought after and gathered.
This scarcity has raised the question as to
whether it may not he so cultivated as to in
crease the quantity and improve the quality.
have seen Il letter on the subject from the
United States consul at Palermo, from
whence the
BEST QUALITY OF SuMAC
is exported. He says that the wild sunac,
which grows ahundantly on the mountains
of Sicily. is Of very inferior quality, and now
| comparatively worthless since the American
has been brought into competition with it,
| but that the fine article which is exported il
produced by cultivation.
He says that very rich soil is required
| that plants and not the seed are used that
! the wild sumac OF the mountains affords
| the best "pant bed" and that these plants
| will not need reviewing for ten or fifteen
wears. by which time the soil will be very
| thoroughly exhausted The leaves only are
gathered like the tea leaves. He argues that
with proper soil and care in the cultivation
the sulnac of this country may
RIVAL THAT OF SICILY.
The increasing demand for sumac Qol
dyeing, but chiefly for tanning purposes.
will doubtless induce some of our enter
pri>ing farmers to try experiments in cult
waiting it. and the day is not distant when
the "shoemake" which our fathers deemed
| worthless will be Il still more valuable arti
Gle Of commerce.
POLITICS
have been rather quiet here, except that an
industrious darky, said to belong to the
custom-holEe ring" in Richmond, las
been moving among the freedmen to post
them up on their right and duty to vote fol
| Grant. At court the other day /" Hon." Rusl
Burgess. "Colunel" Jenkins, and Bleckie,
| (the negro asscsSor for this diStrict) mad,
ultra Grant speeches. Hon. William Mar
shall Amber happened to be ON hand, ant
made a reply, in which, we hear, he gave
Burgess the most complete SHINING that ha
been witnessed here for years.
l hear that Mr.. Amber, who has been quie
for some time, is entering most heartily into
the canvass for Greeley and Brown.
a..-s.. ..... VIATOR.