The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-03
How to Gather and Treat Sumac.
[Lynchburg News.l

Sumac is fast coming to &c an important
product OF Virginia. 1t is spontaneous
growth needs no cultivation, is gathered by
children and women, and is therefore pretty
much all profit Establishments for the manu-
facture of it have been put in operation in
many parts of the State, a large one being To-
Gated at Lynchburg The leaves find ready
sale at almost any trading point and bring in
u neat little revenue to classes of people who
otherwise would have little opportunity of
making anything. 1t is a most fortunate
thing that this business IS growing into the
Importance that it is, and we doubt not the
time is near at hand when it will be much in
creased. We would not be at all surprised in
two or three years to see the sumac cult
waited crop. The Virginia article ranks high
in the markets, next to the Sicily. We notice
sales quoted at S45 per ton. There are large
possibilities in this article, and Virginia occu-
pies high vantage ground in its production
and handling.
AS this is the season of the year for gather
ing it we conclude that we can render valua-
BILE service by publishing some practical rules
for its management and therefore give place
to the following directions, prepared and pub
lished by Mr.. German Smith, of Winchester,
Va, one of the largest and most successful
leaders in Sumac in the South:
1.-THE sumac should be taken ac7ss5e all the sap
is still IN the leaf, and before it has turned red
say, as a general thing, during latter part of
June. July, and not later than August, and in
no case after it has begun to dry up and dead
en-, nor after the least frost, for it is of no &C.
count then, and will not be bought. The
earlier the sumac is taken the better it is. The
red berries must all b. thrown out. The little
low, or black sumac, as it is called, is as good
as any, and the best way to take it is to cut it
and thresh it and take out the stems. This
can be done by fine rake or running it
through fan. 1t may be wilted in the sun,
but must be cured a,ader c00er, and not be al
lowed to be burnt by the sun or to get scet, or
to be in such large quantities as to heat in
curing-0ny of which destroys its color and
strength and renders it 0alateless. 1t 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 OBJ
tanned in a small space, and the sumac will
cure faster All sumac should be gathered at
least a month before it is sufficiently cured to
be brought in for sale, and in bad weather
even longer time may be required to proper
ly dry it; tor not only the leaf but the twig
too must be thoroughly dry, so that it will
snap short off like clay pipe-stem, or it can
not be received, for it will heat and spoil
THIS NEST be strictly Observed.
However long sumac may have been taken
or however dry it may be, it draws the damp
ness from the atmosphere in damp time and
must not be packed until it is perfectly dried
out again.
Sumac should have the same green bright
color and fresh appearance when cured as
when taken from the bush, and must not be
6edc7ted nor look dark and dead nor smell 2nusty.
1t is just as important to have your sumac
gathered at the proper time and in good con-
dition 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 is
uEsaleable and by mixing poor with good you
spoil all. 1t is becoming more important
every year to have your leaves in good con-
| dition, on account of increasing competition.
"The leaf is what is wanted, but to facilitate
the gathering, you can strip off the blades
that is, take the little tsoigs upon which the
leaves immediately grow-or you can cut stalk
and all, and when dry enough thrash it and
take out the stems, being careful not to make
it too fine, so as to prevent the detection or
adulteration. The large stems must be all
| taken out. Don't cut it up.
"rhe stripping of the leaves is apt to kill
the sumac, and when the stalk dies the roots
connected with it dies 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 condition for bagging
when Thoroughly cured, and new shoots will
spring up next season, bearing more and larger
| leaves than the old stalk"