The herald., 1894-04-15
MORE. FACTS ABOUT CANAIGRE.
Results Of Investigations by
Government Officials.
Extracts From Advance Sheets Of
Consular Report.
The Value of the Plant As an Article OF
UOmmercs and Rs n Re-
source of This
County.

Careiul investigation Oh bpo Vhluo "a VIZ
oanaigre plant as a producer OF tannlc
acid, its adaptabiity to the soil and eli
mate of Southern California, its COM
mercial value in the markets oil the
world, AID the probability OF securing
reliable market for our product in guam
titles large enough and at prices hign
enough to warrant it's cultivation on
large scale on the cheap lands oil this
state.
furnished the columns Of the HER
AID with data from the government ex-
pertinent stations OF Arizona and Call
iornia to chow conclusively that the
plant Was indigenous to this country,
and that its cultivation could be made
successful so far as producing good crops
OF the root was concerned. 1t was dem
onutrated that by means OF irrigation
crops of from 10 to Is or even 20 tons
per acre could be produced, and that
neither irrigation nor cultivation wss
necessary during the months Of June,
July, August and September, when
water was the most valuable, and at a
time of the year when the residents OF
the interior valleye desired mostly to
spend 3 portion of their time at the aea
coast. From these two standpoints the
cultivation OF canaigre was very at
tractiVe.
The main question to be studied and
considered was that of market. Gould
the product be eold at remunerative
price and in large qaantitiesf Would
the consumer take it on large scale, so
that the markets would not be glutted
when the cultivation of this root was as
yet in it's infancy? This became the
only question to be settled.
The Southern California improvement
company is constructing large irrigation
works-the Minneola cansl-to irriEate
a large tract OF arid land on the Moiave
river, east Of Dagxett, in San BernArdino
county. Canaigre can be successfully
grown on that reclaimed valley land, for
it is growing wild there today in locali-
ties where enough moisture can be
found to supply the limitedhde nands of
this desert plant for water. Hence the
company was interested in asoertaining
if markst for the root could be found.
On Dehslf OF the company wrote the
following letter to onr oonsul-general at
rrruatIvn nAu IN 1UfoPu.
DEAR SIe The eubject OF the cslti-
walton Of cenaigre, plant that yields
tennic acid in large quantities, is at
tracing widespread attention in Cali
fornia at the present time.
Onf company is now constructing a
canal that will reclaim large tract of
land along the Mojave river, which land
when reclaimed is we'll suited to the
cultivation OF this plant.
We are in search OF all the iniorma-
tion obtsinable regarding the CONNER
cial value OF the canaigre root. We
learn that the German tanning school
at FTeiburR, SaxOny, has studied this
question to ascertain the value of this
plant as a producer OF tannic acid.
Would it be possible for you to obtain
from that school, and through it from
other sources of information, reliable
data regarding the commercial value OF
canaigre. Will the European market
take the root in its dried shape, and if
go, at what price per ton and in what
quantities? What we want 10 know is,
can we find profitable market for the
canaigre root in sufficient quantities to
warrant its cultivation here on large
soAle2
Any information which you could
gather would be thankfully received az
it would be used in establishing in a
practical way an industry which bids
fair to become q great wealth producer
in this state ii the meagre information
at hand proves to be true upon further
investigation.
Awaiting your reply have the honor
to remain yours truly,
(Signsd) L. M. Holt.
In due course of time the following
reply to that letter was received, show
ing that the subject was considered one
OF great interest in that country as we'll
as in this:
DEAR SIR II have received your let.
ter OF the 18th instant, asking me to
furnish you with certain information in
respect of canaigre.
have instituted the proper inquiries.
in the best informed channels, and as
soon as | am in possession of authentic
information touching the points pre-
sented ia your letter you will hear fur
ther from me.
1t will give me pleasure to do every-
thing in my power to aid you in estab-
fishing profitable industry in the line
indicated by you. You must not be
impatient, as it requires time to obtain
trustworthy information in this country. |
especially il it is thought that the |
growth OF an industry with you will tend |
to retsrd the prosperity of an industry
here.
Rest assured that will do my best to
give you what you want. at the earliest
possible moment, consistent with ac-
curacy and the Importance of the sub.
ject. Faithfully yours,
(Signed) w. H. EDWARDS,
Consul General.
Nothing further WAS heard about the
matter for several weeks until the mails
brought the following letter, showing
progress in the work.
DEAR SIR Referring to previous cor
respondence in respect of the cultiva.
tion of canaigre, l beg to respond that
your inquiry of December 18th last has
been the subject of special investigs-
tion by Mr.. j. @. Monaghan, United
States consul at Chemnitz. near which
point is situate the German tanning
school at Freiburg.
The report OF Consul Monaghan has
been sent to the department of state at
Washington, and will no doubt be pub
lished in the regular consular series of
reports.
In case you make application to the
department OF etate at Washington, you
viii be furnished with copy oi the CON
sular report containing the report of
Consul Monaghan.
The information ID authentic, and you