The herald., 1894-01-01
1t Will Supercede Oak and
Hemlock for Tanning.
An Industry Suitable for the Arid
Land Regions.
1t Has Become commercial PROPOSE
tion Only la tho Past Four or
Five Years-eome Valu-
able Information.
[BY L. NJ, HoLr.l

New Mexico and Arizona, and is found
wild in some parts of Southern Cali
fornia.
1t is only during the past four or five
years that this plant has attracted pub
lie attention as commercial proposi-
ton. In 1882 and again in 1884, at
tempts were made to utilize the canal
gre root by making shipments of the
wild root to the eastern states and to
Europe, but the scarcity of the root was
an obstacle to snccess, and the idea of
cultivating the plant was not then
| thought of.
The value of the root consists in the
amount of tannic acid which it carries,
which ranges from 25 to 30 per cent,
and this acid is used extensively all over
the world in the manufacture of leather,
the present source of supply being oak
and hemlock bark, which are getting
very scarce, and hence the price OF tan
mic acid ie constantly on the advance.
The first shipment of this root in its
! green state was made to Glasgow. Scot
land, in 1887, and after trial it was
stated that one firm there (Martin &
Miller) could uee 10000 tons year at
| $40 per ton, in it's sliced and dried etate.
At Eddy, in the Pecos valley in New
Mexico. the farmers are cultivating
canaigre and are getting $40 per ton in
its green state for all they can raise.
The commercial value of canaigre ap-
pears to be established beyond all ques-
tion.
Professor Either of the Vienna re-
search station says that "cRnaigre is
suited for tanning uppers, fine saddlery
and fancy feathers. 1t can be used alone
or in connection with other materials"
He aleo recommends it for its quickness
and thorougbnees in tanning, color,
beauty, consistency and pliability. He
also says that the price, SOS per ton for
the dried root. is very reasonable.
In 1891 and '92 the shipments Of the
canaigre root assumed considerable pro-
portions. Between 500 and 1000 car
loads found its way to market from Ari-
zona, New Mexico and Texas. And in
addition thereto large quantities of the
product was stored at the extract works
at Dening.
Thus far most OF the capaigre root
product has been gathered by digging
the wild plant, but this is unsatisfac-
tory, for so much territory muet be
worked over to get limited amount Of
the root.
1t has now been demonstrated be-
yond question that the plant can be
successfully cultivated, and that there
is more profit in cultivating the crop
than in relying on the wild product,
which is necessarily so scattered as to
take away all the profit in the extra
expense of gathering.
At $40 per ton, which appears to be
minimum price for the root crop, the
profits are more than double the pro-
fits of beet culture. for the yield per
acre is about the same, while the coet
of production is less and the price per
ton is more than double. so9.
The amount OF tannic acid used in
the world is enormous, and while the
demand is increasing the supply is
rapidly decreasing.
In addition to the supply of oak and
hemlock barks, our country is importing
large quantities of gambler from the
Eaet Indies. During 1891, $1,000 tons
were brought into this country. which
wae valued at $l000per ton, or 81 500 600.
Six tons of green canaigre root will make
one ton OF tannic acid. worth 500, and
this acid can be manufactured at cost
Of about $40 per ton, and this would
make the green canaigre roots worth SIS
per ton-three times the yalue of the
sugar beet. 1t would require 5000 car
loads of green canaigre to take the place
of the imported gambler, to say nothing
of supplanting the oak and hemlock bark
and exporting to other countries.
While canaigre is q dry climate plant
it's growth is aeslfted materially by irri-
cation, but it is one of those crops where
no irrigation is necessary during the dry
GUNNER months of June, July, August
and September. The plant begins to
grow in October and natures in May,
after which the roots or tubers increase
in size and value during the summer
months. but the top dries down and no
water is necessary.
The canigre tuber resembles in ehape
the eugar beet. They are planted one
in hill like potatoes, the rows being 30
inches apart and the plants from to IL
inches apert in the row. ton OF tuhers
will plant an acre. The plants grow
vigorously, and dozen tubers, moro or
less. form in each hill, where the seed
tuber grows in size and. unlike the seed
potatoe, at the end of the season it is as
good az any taken in the hill, only it is
larger. The tubers are planted and har-
vested ae potatoes are planted and har-
vested.
The man who grows this crop can do
60 with many advantages in his favor.
He takes care of his crop during the
fall. winter and spring months, using
such irrigation as may DO necessary and
desirable, and when the hot summer
months come he is through his work for
the season. and he can retire to the sea-
coast and take the summer easy with no
farm cares to worry him. In the follow
ing October he can harvest his crop and
plant again, getting ready for another
season.
It seems as though the market for this
crop was practically unlimited and that
the business would never be overdone,
bnt of course regarding this the future
will decide more definitely.
So far ms experience goes, the Canal
gre tuher improves with cultivation. II
would be strange if this were not so.
The tubers will probably increase in
sizs, the yield per acre will probably in
crease also, and the percentage OF tan
mic acid will likely increase with culti-
vation. and possibly choice varieties
may come to light which will be an
improvement over the native wild tubsr
/ II Nv being grown,
The plant likes a loose, sandy soil, but
! does well in the heavier soils, ii not toe
heavy.
The canaigre tubers will keep fol
MANY yeare it Kent drv and after they