The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-09-14
J. AlARsDE,
Commissioner of Agriculture.


given the readers of the Mexican
Trader some information on agricul-
tural subjects, among them those of
agriculture and beet-culture. Apro-
pos. the idea has suggested itself to
me. and which would be of interest to
the Government and the Mexican
agriculturists, that there must be a
plant that will substitute the trees
called Huguaninchil, Encino or Tim
be, CascalOte, Una and others, in their
tanning qualities.
For the purposes of tanning, these
trees have been used by leather deal
ers almost exclusively and wantOnly
TO the foul destruction of the fine,
magnificent forests of the central and
semi-tropical plateau of the Republic.
Canaigre is the plant that should SUI
percede these trees in the above in
dustry.
Canaigre is a tuber-resembles in
shape the sugar-beet, and in leaf the
rhubarb or pie plant. 1t is a native
of Sonora, Chihuahua, COahuila,
Southern and Lower California, New
Mexico and Arizona. In the last few
years it has been cultivated in New
Mexico and Texas, principally along
IDe HecOS ' alley.
The plant likes a loose, sandy soil,
but does well in the heavier soils, if
not too clayey. 1t is planted one IN a
hillock, like potatoes, the rows being
thirty inches apart and the plants
from to u inches apart in the row.
A ton of tubers will plant an acre.
The plants grow vigorously, and a
dozen tubers form in each hillock,
where the seed tuber grows in size
and, unlike the seed potato, at the
end of the season it is as good
as any taken in the hillock, only it is
larger.
The tubers are planted and bar
vested as potatoes are. The ground
should be well ploughed and pulver-
lied. The canaigre tuber can be
plaAted Immediately after the first
rains in June or in the beginning of
October, but in the latter case the soil
should be irrigated, if rains do not fol-
low The planting. The plant COM
mences its growth soon after planting,
il the soil is moist, and will continue
growing all winter, as the cold in Mex
leo is not sufficient TO iDjure its foil
age. The plant natures after six
months and then the roots increase in
size, but the tops begin to die and
drop off.
Canaigre is a dry climate plant, but
its growth is assisted materially by
irrigation. The canaigre tubers will
keep for many years if kept dry, and
after they are fully dried they can be
moistened and planted, when they
will grow as well as the fresh roots.
Until lately the canaigre root pro-
duet had to be gathered altogether by
digging the wild plant, which made it
very unsatisfactory, for so much terri
tory in this case had to be worked
over 10 ge a limited amount of the
root, and thereby creating an extra
expense. So far as experience goes,
the plant can be successfully cultiva-
ted, and by cultivation there is no
question that the tuber improves in
size, quality, yield, and in percentage
of fannie acid.
The annual yield per acre about
the same as that of beets 80 to so tons
per acre.. The price paid in New
Mexico for the green root is SO gold |
per ton, and from $40 to $50 for the !
dried root. The cost of cultivation is
as follows:
The cost of seed per acre, $40; plow-
ing and preparing land, 81; irrigation 1
and cultivating, IS; digging, with |
81; water rental, Sl.50; with |
a total cost of $3.50.
The above estimate is made where
irrigation is imperative, but with
Mexico rains, especially in the GEN.
trail and southern sections of the coun-
try, that expense can be reduced very
Canaigre can not only be used for
common tanning purposes, but is also
suited for uppers, fine saddlery and
fancy feathers. 1t can be used alone
or in connection with other materials.
1t is to be recommended for its quick
ness and thOroughness in tanning, as
well as for the color, beauty, consist
ency and pliability impaired to the
leather. The value of the root con-
sists in the amount of fannie acid
which it carries, ranging from % to 80
per cent; and il is used all over the
world in the manufacture of leather,
etc.
The present source of supply in
Europe and the United States being
oak and hemlock barks which are be-
coming very scarce, and hence the
price OF tannin is constantly on the l.