Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-06-03
CANAIGRE.
Market for the Great Tannin Root
 Assured.
The Industry on a Big Scale in New Mexico-No Experiment
 Any Longer.

great abundance, throughout west ern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, ! and portions of southern California. Some ten years ago it was learned that this plant contained a large percentage of tannic acid. Som e analysis were made and some in vestigations were pursued, for a year or more, with view to learn ing how this could be utilized for tanning. No practical use was made of the plant, however, until 1889, when several small shipments were made to tannerss in both the United States and Europe. These men experimented with the root shipped them, and obtained results that were at once encouraging and gratifying to all concerned.
 A number of European tanners adopted the canaigre root, erected plants for extracting the acid from it, and adapted their tanneries to the use of this extract. Ever since that time they have had alarge force of men employed, in New Mexico and Arizona, digging and shipping canagrie root. American tanners have been slow to adopt this new agent in their business, fearing that an adequate supply could not be obtained, for any considerable length of time. They have long ago been convinced, however, that it furnished equally as good tanning agent as either oak or hemlock bark, and several of them have stated that if canaigre could be cultivated success fully, and if farmers, in the region where it grows, would engage in its cultivation extensively, they would then adapt their establish ments to its use, and would discard | the bark entirely.
 They have long since known that the supply of bark would, sooner or later, become eXhausted; that each year its cost would increase, on account of its becoming more and more scarce, and that some substit- ute most be found. In view of these facts, farmers in New Mexico, and especially in the PeCos valley, turning are their attention to the cul- tivation of canaigre. Experiments in the cultivation of this plant have been carried on here and elsewhere for three years past, and 1t has been demonstrated beyond question that 1t can be cultivated successfully in this region.
 l In its wild state ten to twelve tons to the acre, of green root, have been dug, and it has been shown that these yields can be at least doubled, under proper cultivation and irriga- ton. One of the large European firms who have been dealing in can aigre root, have planted 32o acres of it near Eddy, and a number of farmers have planted smaller tracts.
 It IS safe to say that within another six months at least 2,ooo acres of canaigre will be growing in the Pecos valley alone, and that the 1 acreage will be increased every year.
 One of our prominent business men was in New York few weeks since talking with one of the large exporters of canaigre. This man offered to con- tract with any responsible man or firm in the Pecos vally, to take 5000 tons of canaigre each year, for the next five years, and offered to pay at the rate of 5 10 a ton for the green root, on board cars at Eddy. At this rate the better tracts of wild canaigre would yield SIco to $2oo an acre, and judging by the experiments that have been made in its cultivation, our farmers may safely count on realizing from their canalgre crops any where from $Ioo to $2oo on acre.
 The farmers in this region may plant this crop and feel absolutely certain of realizing large returns. It is not affec ted seriously by drouth, although it pro- duces much more adundantly when irrigated once month. It is not sub- ject to attacks from insects or worms, and grows rapidly all though our winter season. The valuable part is the root, which is similar in shape to the sweet potato. It natures in four to six months but fin the ground another six months continues to grow stronger in tannic acid. The germ is in the upper end of the root. For planting we cut off about an inch of this portion of the root, and the rest IS marketable.
 A large plant for extracting the tannic acid from canaigre has lately been put in operation at Deming, New Mexico This containis machinery for slicing and drying the root, vats for boiling, pipes for distilling, etc. The first run was made few weeks ago. Some 10000 tons of root were passed through | and yielded acid at the rate of each | three tons of dried root handled. After going through the process the pulp is returned to the land, and is valuable for fertillzing purposes. The acid IS being shipped to Eastern tanners.
 This concern has orders for several hundred tons of acid, and there IS no doubt of their having market for their entire output for years to come. The company owning the factory has planted about 500 acres of canaigre and intends to plant 500 acres more. A number of farmers in the vicinity of Deming are also planting smaller tracts.