Deming headlight., 1893-06-17
rnn cAnAroRn PLANT.
aomeihiug Aboat ihs Industry which Prom.
iaca 10 Assume Such Large Proportlnhs
"a New mexieo. An Article whlsk Cen.
taina Sons Practical Bngesstions Csnl
ctFnine the Culture oftho Uanaigro
tFrom ,he irrigation Arel


climates, and grows Wild In great abund.
ance, throughout western Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona and portions Of south.
ern California. Some ten years ago Il
was learned that this plant contained
large percentage Of lannic acid. Some
analyses were made and some Inveatlga.
llons we're phraued, for year or more,
with a view 10 learning how this could
be utilized fOr tanning. No practical
use was made ~ the plant, however, un.
~ 1889 when setttAl small shipments
we're made 70 tannorles In both the
United States aud Europe. These men
experimental with the roots shipped TO
them, and obtained results that were at
once encouraging and gratifying 70 oil
concerned.
Anumbcr Of European tannors adopt.
ed the canalgre root, erected plants for
extracting the acid from Il, aud adapted
their tannerles TO the use Of The extract.
Ever sluce that time they have had a
large force Of men employed, IN New
Mexico and Arizona, digging and ship.
ping the caunlgre root. American tan.
ncrs have been slow 10 adopt this new
agent Ia 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 II furnished equally as
good tanning agent as either oak or
hcmlock bark, aud several Of them have
stated that II canaigre could be cuitlyat.
ed successfully, aud n farmers, Ia the
region whore Il grows, would engage 10
lts cultivation extensively, they would
then adapt their establishments TO Iia
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 lts
cost would lncreasc, on account OF lts
becoming more and more scarce, aud
that some substitute must be found. In
view OF these facts, farmers In New
Mexico, and especially In the pecos Val
ley, are turning their attention TO the
cultivation Of canaigre. Experiments ln
the cultivation Of this plant have been
carried on there mud elsewhere for three
years past, aud Il has been demonstrated
beyond question that Il can be cultlyat.
ed successfully Ia that region.
Ia lis Wild state ten 10 twelve tons 20
the acre, Of green root, have been dug.
and II has been shown that these yields
can be ut least doubled, under proper
cultivation and irrigation. Que Of the
large European tirns who have been
dealing Ia canalgre root, have planted
SEQ acres Of Il near Eddy, and number
OF farmers have planted smaller tracts
II IL safe 10 say that within another six
months at least e,OOO acres Of canalgrc
will be growing In the peoos valley
alone, and that the acreage will he In.
Cfeased every year. One Of our proml
nent business men was 10 New York a
few weeks since talking with one Of the
large exporters Of caualgre. This man
offered 20 contract with any responsi.
Bile mnn or firm In the Pecos valley,
20 take 10000 tons Of canalgre each
year, for the next i've years, aud offered
10 pay at the rate Of ten dollars n ton for
the green root, on board ears at Eddy.
At this rate the better tracts Of wild can.
algrc would yield $iOO To s2OO an acre
aud Judging by the experiments that
have been made In iis cultivation, our
farmers may safely count on realizing
from their canaigre crops any where
from 500 20 e2OO an acre.
The farmers Ia any region may plant
this crop and feel absolutely certain Of
realizing large returns.
Il IL not affected seriously by drouih,
although II produces much more abun'
uantiy whru irrigated once month,
lt h not subject 20 attacka from Insects
or worms, uud grows rapidly all through
our wiuter aeAsun The valuable part Is
the root. which ID similar In shape to u
sweet potato II natures Ia four 10 SIX
munlha but II IA the ground another six
mouths continues 10 grow stronger In
tannlc Acid. lhe germ Is Ia the upper
purt Of the root. For pnntlug We cut of
about an iuCh Di this portion Of the root,
and tue rest is marketable.
a large plant for extracting the tannlc
acid IRON canaigre has lately been put
im operation nt lJemlng N. NJ. This CON
tains machinery tor gliciug aud drylng
tue root, watts i0r boiling, pipes for distil'
lug, etc. The iifal run was MAIDS = few
weeks ago, some 10000 toms Of root were
passed through and yielded acid at the
rate Of one ton 10 each three tons Of dried
root handled. After golng through the
pfocfus the pulp 10 returned 10 the land,
aud IL valuable Tor fertlllzlng purposes,
he acid Is being shipped 70 eastern tan
ners.
lhls concern has orders for several
hundred tons of acid, aud there is no
doubt OF their having market Tor thelc
entire output for years 10 come. The
company Ownlng the factory has planted
about live hundred acres Of canalgre aud
Intends 10 plant i've hundred acres more
A number Of farmers Ia the ylclnlty ol
Demlng are also planting smaller tracts
A movement II nUw on foot for the ea'
labllshment Of a similar faCtory IN the
pecOs valley, aud Il Is expected that work
on the buildings will begin within the
next few mouths. Thousands ol
cattle have been shipped out Of thl'
country every year for the lert fifteen
yesFa. Hereafter, instead OF Bhlpplng
ihem on foot, these cattle will be oiahgh
tered hers aud the beef shipped IN re-
lrlgerator cars. The skins Will then b
tanned With canalgre extract Mean
tllue, while waiting for these faclofle
and lanneFles, AL tke eanalgfe that cas-
be produced here will be aold readily
for shipment 10 eastern ritleo aud ior <
port 70 Europe, Altogether. this new In
duslfy II uf great Importance, and u del
tlna1 "a hnnntna ana ~ ehn -. 49, 80 80 ~