Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-06-24
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 d.
rections and pay cash for them according
to quality, as follows-delivered at my
SUMAC AND BLRK MILLS, WlNCHES-
TER.
DIRECTIONS-Th Sumac should he
taken while the sap is still III the leaf
and before i: has turned much red, say as
a general thing, during latter part OF
June, July, August and forepart OF sep
TENDER, but in no case after it has beSue
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 may be wilted in the sun, but must
be cured under cover, and not allowed to
he burnt by the sun or 10 get wet, or to be
in such large quantities Is to heat in cur
ine-any of which destroys its color and
strength and renders it valueless. II
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
mae should be gathered at least month
before il is sufficiently cured 10 be brought
in for sale, and in bad weather even 4
longer time may be required TO properly
dry il; for not only the leaf, but its stem
too, must be thoroughly dry: so that it
will snap short oil, 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, 1t 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 DC
dry.
Sumac should have the same green,
bright color and fresh appearance when
cured as 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
or 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 ut 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 oil
the bladeS-that is, take the little twiSS
upon which the leaves Immediately grow
or you can cut stalk aud all, and when
dry enough threSh it, and take out the
stems, beng careful not to make it too
fine 50 as to prevent the detection of adul-
tcration.
For good bright leaves, we'll cured and
clcancd-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 off the 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-thc branches will
keep the leaves apart and prevent them
from heating, when first gathered; and by
Il little thre>hing before the Sumac gets
too dry, SO a5 not to break up too much
the stems can he easily separated,
leaving the Leaf i'll 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 ST MAC is all ready for de-
livery. BAGS Will be furnished for bring
ing it in: but they must be well 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 ut any
Depot or Station on the Railroads.
"a" Shippers should in all cases pack
the bags well and sew them up securely,
and put some Mark on 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 ill.,
spcctcd separately, when received, by
having been advised beforehand by the
shippers and thus save much confusion,
trouble and dissatisfaction.
GERMAN SMITH.
Winchester, Virginia, May y, 1876.