The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-21
ABOUT THE CANA|GRE PLAT.
Some Facts About the Possible
Profit to Be Made.
1t May Prove to Be Remarkably
Well Paying Crop.
The Result OF Some Investigations ~ to
the Marietta Stockton Tanner
Writes About IFS Prob
able Usea.



In previous articles i have discussed
the prscticability of cuiltivating the wild
canaigre plant in ordbr to furnish the
tanneries OF the country with a supply
OF tanning material.
1t has been fully demonstrated that
the plant can be successfully cultivated.
That it will yield from 10 to 20 tons Of
green roots to the scre. That the plant
will make most of its growth in the
spring months, 80 that little water is
needed for irrigation purposes during
the summer molnths, when it is the
scarcest and most valuable. That the
farmer can plant his crop in October
and take care of the same until the fol-
lowing June, when he can leave his crop
for the summer season and go with his
family to the seacoast to take his annual
vacation, and then, returning in Sep
TENDER, can harvest bis crop and plant
again for the next season.
1t has been fully demonstrated that
the roots can be dried and that three
tons OF green roots will make one ton of
dried; and that in this condition the
root is in suitable shape for use in the
tanneries. although the freight 10 against
the shipment of the product in this
shape for long distances. Therefore
milla have be en- established for securing
the extract in moro compact form to
save freight. A canaigre mill will cost,
if put up to be run in an economical
way, fully 100000. 1T will require
from 6 to 10 tons of greeh roots to make
one ton OF the extract.
- 1a1 -
tions on this subject because the land
along the Mojsve river under the Min
nicola canal, east of Dsggett, is just
suited to the growth of canaigre, and if
the industry could he established a
profitable business would grow up in
the cultivation OF this plant.
The only question that remains to be
solved is that of market. Will the tan
neries of the country take the product
if it is grown?
Seeing an article in the Stockton In
dependent to the effect that the Stock
ton tannery was ready to use the
canaigre root, wrote the firm, Kull-
man, Wagner & Co., to see If such was
the case, and they reply that they could
not agree to take the canaigre in any
specified quantities. az the use OF it
would be entirely experimental. They
wrlte: "We have never used the root
on account of the eight on same being
too high to justify our doing 80, but
have had barrel of the extract. The
extract lie Objectionable, however, on ac-
count of the amount Of coloring matter
contained in 1t due 10 its being boiled *
the process of manufacture. From data
in our possession we are convinced that
the sliced dry root would give the best
possible results and for which we would
be willing to pay $50 for one ton de-
livered in Stockton with which to exper-
iment. 1t is our opinion that at the
price above named it could be used to
good advantage in connection with
bark, and see no reason why it should
riot be used quite extensively. We hope
D see you make start at raising this
D liant, and believe that it would prove
to- be profitable if conducted on limited
&C ale at first, as its use in this country
is very little known except in theory,
an d it would take some time to estab-
lis it universally"
Now here is the opinion OF firm that
wo Md probably be large purchaser.
Tn by offer $50 for a single ton, and say
the believe this price would be- satis-
factory for permanent use. What re-
turli does this give the grower? All in
forI nation at hand goes to show that the
can aigre plant will yield from six to 20
toni per acre, with the average being
plac ed at about IL tons per acre. Three
tons of green roots will make one ton of
dried, which makes the yield of dried
roots per acre at from two to say six
tons. The freight from Daggett to
Stockton in carload lots on canaigre
roots is $3.50 per ton. This would net
the grower in that locality $3.50 per
ton a Daggett, or from $75 to 1925 per
acre, or an average Of $3.50 per acre for
his crop.
The Stockton tannery could not use
the root because OF the high price OF
freight. This probably referred to roots
from New Mexico. the only place here
tofore where canaigre could have been
had.
From Southern California the freight
rates are not oppressive if the product
ie ca rried in carload lots. II in broken
lots, the freight would be too great.
| propose to follow this matter still
further and ascertain how great de-
mand there would be Tor the canaigre
root OIL this coast provided it could be
bad at q suitable price, and as the facts
are gathered will lay them before the
readers OF the HERALD.
In the uAeantime, | firmly believe
that the near future will see the canal
gre business developed on large seals
on the cheap lands OF Southern Califor-
M Horn