Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-07-31
SUMAC.

I WILL bay any amount Of Sumac thstis pro-
I perlv gathered and cured, and pay CASH for
itsccording to Quality, as tollows-deliYered at my
SUMAC AND BARK MILLS, WINCHESTER.
DIRECrIoxs-The Sumac should be taken ,shi'e
The sap Is still IA tie Ic0f-and before il has turned
red. say as a general thing, during July, August
and fcrcuart OF September, but in no case after it
has begun to dry up and deaden, nor after the
least frost The Red Berries should all be thrown
out The Little Low, or Black Sumac, a il is
called, i as good rs any.
Itmay be wlted in the sun, hut must be cured
under corer, and not allowed to be burnt by the
sun or to get net or 10 be in such large quantities
as 20 heat Ia curing o. which destroys Is color
and strength and renders it rdlae'ess. 1t should
not be thrown upon tight floor to cure, but
raised up so rs 60 let the air get under II and by
shelving loosely much surface can be obtained in
a small space, and the Sumac will cure faster All
Sumac should be gathered at least a month before
il is sufficiently cared TO bs brought in for sale,
and in bad weather even longer time NAV BE- re-
quired TO properly dry it; for not only tide leaf,
but its stem too, must be thoroughly dry; so that
70 will snap short off, like pipe STEM or il can
not be received, for it will heat and spoil-this
must be strictly Obsegred.
However long Sumac may have been taken or
however dry it may be, it will draw the dampness
from the atmosphere in damp time. and must
not be packed until it is perfectly dried out again
We cannot receive Sumac when damp any more
than when IL is green. must be dry.
Sumac should have the same green, bright color
and fresh appearance when cured as when taken
from the bush and must not be biedched, nor lonk
dark and dead. nor smell musty. II just asmpor-
taut to have your Sumac gathered at the proper
time and in good condition when brought b. mar
ket as anything else. If sand or dirt Of any kind,
or any other kind of leaves, are found among II,
it will not BE- bought at anV price at al pad by
mixing poor with good you spoil all. The Leaf Is
what wanted. but TO facilitate the gathering
YOU can strip CT tie bladss-thatis, take thJliH,e
firigs upon which the leaves inne2;aiely prov
or YOU can cut stalk and all and befnte the stalk
gets dry enough to break up thrcsh il, and take
out the stsms, being careful not ia make tbo fne
so as 10 prevent the der'ction Of adultcratihn
For good bright leaves, well cured and qlenned
that - free from stems and all impUritjds, One
DoHar and T,cenig rice Cent. per hundred pounds
will be paid and others bought accordingly; and
81 90 per hundred pounds at any depot on the r..
r.. fwhcu received and examined the leaves are
found to be all right The stripping off the leaves
is apt to kill the Sumac and when the stalk dies
the roots connected with il die also therefore we
would recommend cutting the stalk close to the
grouud-thc branches will keep tho leaves apart
ard prevent them from heating, when first gath
cred; and by little threshiRg before the Sumac
gets too dry, so as not to break up too much-the
stems can be easily separated, leaving the leaf in
good condition for bagging when horoUgiy
cured; and new shoots will spring up next season,
bearing and larger leaves than the old stalk.
When vuur SUMAC is all ready for delivery,
BAGS will be furnished for bringing it in; but
they must be rel fUed and promptly rqfarned
min care. ANY one getting Bags for others will
be held responsible for the return Of tho same.
GERMAN SMITH.
Winchester, Va, July II, lS75-3m.