The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-09-12

In the few last numbers / have
given the readers of the Mexican
Trader some information on asricul.
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 wantonlv
| 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 su-
percede these trees in the above in
| dustry.
Cenaigre is a tuber-resembles i'm
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
the Pecos Valley.
The plant likes a loose, sandy soil,
puI uoSc wen III the heavier SOILS, II
not too clayey. 1t is planted one in a
hillock, like potatoes, the rows being
thirty inches apart and the plants
from to II inches apart in the row.
A ton OF tubers will plant an acre.
The plants grow vigorously, and
dozen tubers form in each hiIlock,
where the seed tuber grows in size
and, unlike the seed potato, al the
end of the season it is as good
as any taken in the hi!lock, only it is
larger.
The tubers are planted and bar
vested as potatoes are. The ground
should be well piOughed and puIver- |
lied. The canaigre tuber can be |
planted 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, |
If the soil is moist, and will continue
growing all winter, as the cold in Mex
leo Is not sufficient to injUre 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 cauaigre tubers will
keep for many years if kept dry, and
after they are fully dried they can be
mOistened and planted, when thew
will grow as well as the fresh roots.
Until lately the canaigre root pro-
iuct had to be gathered altogether by
iigging the wild plant, which made il
very unsatisfactory, for so much terri
.ory in this case had to be worked
,ver to ge a limited amount of the
-oot, and thereby creating an extra |
expense. 80 far as experience goes.
he plant can be successfully cultiva-
ed, and by cultivation there is no !
question that the tuber improves i'm :
ize, quality, yield, and in percentage
# tannic acid. :
The annual yield per acre is about
he same as that OF beets 80 to 50 tons
'er acre. The price paid in New '
lexIco for the green root is $40 gold 4,
'er ton, and from so to $50 for the I
ried root. The cost Of cultivation il
: follows:
The cost OF seed per acre, go; plow-
ng and preparing land, 3; irrigation
nd cultivating, IS; digging, with I
nachine, -; water rental, 81 30: with (
total cost Of $3.50. :
The ab-ve estimate il made where I
-Tgation Is imperative, but with ! /
lexlco rains, especially in the CEN c
raj and southern sections Of the cOun.