The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-09-12
How to Gather and Prepare Sumac
for Market

IOr market
We quote the following letter from a
correspondent of the Country Gentle
man:
Red Sumac-black, sometimes called,
is the sumac of our commerce. White
is worthless. Here in southwest Mis-
souri,, the shrub grows without cultiva-
ton on all our prairies and glades. If
it is to be cultivated, the better way it
seems would be to get the ground in
good fix, and plant in rows about three
feet apart each way; cultivate the first
year, and SOW the land in blue grass, as
it is of slow growth, and the turf will
help the ground to hold moisture, and
as the sumac roots run near the surface,
they will be nourishei till the branches
have afforded the necessary shelter.
The leaves are gathered here from the
middle of July to last of August, be-
fore they turn red, as after this they are
not marketable. Dry or cure in the
shade. Kiln-drying has been practiced
by some, but cannot say as to the sue
cess, though it seems that this process
would be practically useful. After
curing, the leaflets are generally strip
ped from the stem and packed in bags
or bales for market, though much was
marketed the past season, from some of
our neighboring counties, stems and
all. The price is from seventy-fve
cents to one dollar per hundred pounds
stripped. The seeds are not gathered
with the leaves.
The following facts are from New
York journal:
Previous to 1865 but little American
sumac was used; now nearly 4, 900 tons
are drawn from old fields and forests,
yet at the same time the consumption
has largely increased, and the amount
imported exceeds $500, 900 in value.
The upland sumac is that preferred for
market purposes. It is three species,
the stag-horn or Rltus tyaoItina which
grows to tree eighteen or twenty feet
high, and the smooth or RhGS GL06rd.
The RhaGs COp0Lti7l0 is also used; it is
sometimes called drawf sumac. The
swamp sumac is not considered of
value. OF these the first has branches
of hairy appearance like stag-horn
the two latter have little bristles or
hairs on the berries. These sumacs
generally grow on red lands derived
from primitive rocks.
The time to gather is before the berry
is ripe. Gather only the leaves, and be
careful to keep out the berries. Dry in
the air, taking care to keep out the rain
and dew. Also, do not have the leaves
too thick, as they may heat, and it is
also best to stir them several times a
day. No woody stems should be al
lowed to be picked or get among the
leaves. They add some weight, but
take off greatly from the value of the
sumac. When thoroughly dried, they
must be ground This is done in mills,
the stones of which run on edge, and
there are numbers of them in Maryland,
Virginia, and one in Greensboro, N. G.
AS dried, before being ground, it is
worth about 1 J to 2 cents per pound, as
may be its cleanliness. When ground
and sent to New York, first-class Ameri-
car sumac will sell from A. to cents
per pound by the ton.
When the business was first COM
menced a great deal of poor sumac was
sent to New York. A bad name was
given to the article, and the price was
very low, but we are informed that our
manufacturer in Winchester gets as
much for his article as the best Sicilian.
Southern sumac is richer in tannin than
the Sicilian, but there has not generally
been enough care taken in its prepare
ton for market After grinding it
should be packed in bags containg 162
pounds. The bags, to hold this guam
tity, should be cut 40 by go inches.
That considered best has light green
color.
There is room for dozen or more of
these mills in the south, and the sumac
for them is daily going to waste. The
necessary machinery, buildings and
power need not cost as much as S., 900,
and if grinding only 200 tons a year,
would pay handsomely on that invest
ment. The price at the mills in Vir-
ginia ranges from one to two cents per
pound, and if properly prepared, will
readily sell in New York at four cents
per pound There certainly must be a
profit of 800 per ton.