Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-06-10
SUMAC! SUMAC!

T WILL buy any amount of Sumac leaves
i that are gathered in due time and prop
erly cured according to the following de
rections and pay cash for hem according
to quality, as follows-delivered at nay
SUMAC AND BLRK MILLS, WINCHES-
TER.
DIRECTIONS-Th Sumac should be
taken while the sap is still in the leaf
and before i. has turned much red, say as
general thing, during latter part OF
juno, July, August and forepart of Sep
TENDER, but i'm no case after 1t 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, as 1t
is called, is as good as any.
1t NAV be wilted i'm the sun, but must
be cured under cover, and not allowed to
be burnt by the sun or to get wet, or to be
in such large quantities as to heat in cur
! ing-any of which destroys its color and
strength and renders it valueless. IL
should not be thrown upon tight floor to
cure, but raised up, so AS to let the air get
under it; and by shelving loosely much
surface can be obtained in small space,
and the Sumac will cure faster. All SUI
mac should be gathered at least month
before it is sufficiently cured to be brought
| in for sale, and i'm bad weather even
longer time may be required to properly
| dry it; for not only the leaf, but its stem
too, must be thoroughly dry; so that it
will snap short off, like clay pipe stem,
or it cannot be received, for it will heat
and spOil-this must be strictly observed.
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 it is green. 1t must be
dry.
Sumac should have the same green,
bright color and fresh appearance when
cured rs when taken from the bush, and
must be bleached nor look dark and dead,
nor smell musty. 1t is just as important
to have your Sumac gathered at the prop
er time and in good condition when
brought to market as anything else. If
sand or dirt of any kind or any other kind
of leaves, are found among it, it will not
be bought at any price at all and by mix
ing poor with good you spoil all.
The LEAF is what is wanted, but to
facilitate the gathering you can strip Oft
the blades-that is, take the little twiSs
upon which the leaves Immediately grow
or you can cut stalk and all, and when
dry enough thresh it, and take out the
stems, being careful not to make 1T too
| fine SO as to prevent the detection Of adul-
teratiOn.
For good bright leaves, we'll cured and
| cleaned-that is free from stems and all
! impurities, ONE DOLLAR AND TWENTY
! FIVE CENTS per hundred pounds will be
paid, and others bought accordingly.
The stripping ofthe leaves is apt 10 kill
the Sumac, and when the stalk dies the
roots connected with it die also; therefore
we would recommend cutting the stalk
close to the ground-the branches will
keep the leaves apart AND prevent them
from heating, when first gathered; and by
little threshing 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 condi-
ton for bagging when thoroughly
cured; and new shoots will spring up
| next season, bearing more and larger
| leaves than the old stalk.
When your SUMAC is all ready for de-
| livery BAGS will be furnished for bring
ing it in: but they must be we'll filled and
promptly returned with care. Any one
getting Bags for others will be held re-
! sponsible for the return of the same, and
! all bags not returned will have to be paid
! for.
WILL ALLOW AT LEAST SHOPPER
100 LBS. for Good Sumac Leaves mt any
| Depot or Station on the Railroads.
cY- Shippers should in all cases pack
the bags well and sew them up securely,
and put some Mark OH each Bag, and nOti-
fy me by mail, before shipment if posi-
bic, how many bags and what mark, that
| may know to whom the different lots,
often received in the same car, belong;
and have them assorted, weighed and i'll
spected separately, when received, by
having been advised beforehand by the
shippers and thus save much confusion,
trouble and dissatisfaction.
GERMAN SMITH.
Winchester, Virginia, May q, 1876.