The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-15

which Is usually designated IL
warm. and which quickly becomes
dry after rain. 1t Will also grow
we'll IN fertile soil. having a con
/ siderable admiNture of clay. pro
yided the proportion OF clay Is not
so large as to retain too much
moisture around the roots, the eff
feet of which would be to render
the plant short-lived and to dlmin-
ish materially both the weight and
market value Of the product, not
w~ithstanding that the growing
crop might present a luxuriant APP
p~earance, But sumac grown upon
drv. calcareous soil is niue h richer
in tannin, and, on this account
commands a much higher price
than that taken from a fertile clay
soil. In the ormer, the subStan-
tial elements that compose the leaf
are less watery than IN the latter,
and consequently the loss IN dry
inc is less. If. for example, too
equal volumes of fresh leaves are
taken, one from a soil which, with
reference to its grain producing
power. we call fertile, and the
other from soil which, according
to the same standard, is reckoned
sterile. and, if, after they become
dry. these two volumes are weighed
the mistake of estimating a crop
by It's appearance will at once be
seen. That grown upon the dry,
warm, soil will be found much
heavier, and besides it will emit a
much stronger odor of fannie acid.
Inasmuch, then, Us m Is sold
by weight, and its value IS est
mated solely upon It's fannie
strength, it will readily appear that
the snowy vegetation put forth
upon a rich clay soil is altogether
illusorv, and will suffer by com
parison with that more moderately
presented upon calcareous lands.
Much dampness about the roots
being injurious to Sumac, deterl-
Grating the quality Of the product,
and fastening the decay of the
shrub, it ought to be planted on
highland. For the same reason,
with the additional one that 1T is ;
plant which delights in warm sun,
| shine, a southern exposure should
+ be selected whenever practicable.
PLANTING.
There are few regions in whlcl
!, sumac brings its seed to perfection
Hence arises the necessity of propa
, eating it by mean Of scions. For
: t%unately these put up in abundance
around the mother plants. II
Sicily they are procured when th
winter hoeing is given, which take
. place during December and Jan
: uary.
To commence a plantation j
America, it would be necessary t
:, get the young plants already grow
= ING in the old fields, and transplant
: them. These in time would com
. to be both a plantation and nursery
: and would yield scions abundant
= for extending the plantations. The
should be planted us oon as poss
o bic after the falling Of the leaves i
lie autumn. In getting scions gre;
Is care must be taken to select thos
II which put up from the most robu:
t. plants, as those obtained from I'll
q old decaying ones will be shor
10 lived. A scion having the roc
large, in comparison with the stem
lie and scantily supplied with tibror
Of rootlets, will be apt to die whe
d transplanted; or, if it lives, it cal
not be expected to form a robu
rs and productive shrub. All sue
should be rejected. Special pain
a should be taken not 70 plant tho.
where roots are enveloped with
m white, silky, fibrous covering, as
is taken to be indicative of Il di
ne ease which will spread and serious
impair or destroy the entire plant