The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-01-16
THE CANAlGRE PLANT.

It's Cultivation on q Large Scale Con-
templated In New Mexico.
The extensive cultivation Of the ca
naigre plant, which is found growing
without cultivation or irrigation in
many portions of the Territory, is con-
templated in this section. The tubers
produced by this plant yield large per-
centage Of tannin, superior to thatcx
tracted from the hemlock bark, and not
inferior to the oak bark product This
plant, like the mesquite, thrives in tho
dryest seasons and in soil where appa-
rently, there is very little moisture.
After maturity the tubers dry in the
ground, and often remain for wears with
out decaying. The properties Of this
plant, like the soap weed, the root OF
which is used by the natives instead OF
soap, have been known to the natives Of
New Mexico for years. The properties of
the soap weed are only just beginning to
be known to Americans. While the
Mexicans have used the bruised roots of
this plant for toilet and laundry pur-
poses for years without attempting to
get it in a more convenient form, enter
prising Americans have succeeded in ex-
tracing the useful part, and variety
of toilet preparations having the Mex
lean amole or soap weed as basis arc
on the market
1t took years to get the soap-weed into
prominence, and now tho same thing is
proposed for the canaigre plant. Prep
arations are being made to organize q.
company at Deming for the purpose of
practically demonstrating the value Of
this plant as o source for obtaining tan
min. Unless this plant can be utilized
tanneries are an impossibility in New
Mexico. Neither oak. hemlock nor
sumac can be obtained here at prices
which would make their use for tanning
purposes profitable. Hides are very
cheap, and now have to be shipped sew
eral hundred miles to tanneries. The
projectors of the scheme at Deming are
confident of success and expect to make
the enterprise pay from the start. II
the cultivation of the canaigre plant can
be made successful in any degree, and
there appears to be no reason why
plant which grows wild in so many por-
tions Of the Territory should not thrive
under cultivation, new and a very
profitable industry is open to tho people
of New Mexico. Unlike most cultivat-
ed crops, the canaigre plant needs no ir-
rigation, and consequently lands which
can not be irrigated on account Of their
location can be utilized in the culture
of this plant. There is no danger Of
over-production, for If the supply should
ever become greater than tho local de-
mand the tannin can be easily extracted
from the tubers and shipped wherever
desired.-Silver City IN. N.Y. Letter.
This account Of a Mississippi ball
appears in q Memphis paper: "The ball
given by the young men OF Benoit was
universally scored q success by all in at
tendance. The heavenly spheres sh, 10
forth in their transcendent beauty on
this Thursday night, seeming in perfect
harmony with the brilliancy Of the
event, and through mud and mire from
Greenville to Rosedale the creme de 10
creme of the Mississippi Delta came to
participate in the terpschorcan fete,"
Served Him Right.-Mr. Layman-
See here, doctor, you said there wasn't
any such disease as hydrophobia. DIR.
Schmerz (emphauically)-No, Sir, there
Is not. Mr.. Layman--B But old Grubbs
got it all tho same, and lasa might he
died. DIR. Schmcrz lmeditatively)--
Well, man who goes and ca.ehes dis.
eases that don't exist ought 70 die. -
Puck.