The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-03-11
CANAIGRE IN THE SOUTH.
-Talked-Of Plant Plentiful in
Texas-Yield $500 Per Acre.

A few years ago several articles
appeared in northern journals show
ing that canaigre could be produced
in the west and southwest at large
profit, and figures were published
later by the agricultural depart
ment showing the relative cost of
cultivating aud marketing the roots
and the prices received for them in
the open markets. In Arizona and
New Mexico the plants were i'm
mediately brought under cultivation,
and large farms have ever since been
producing annually tons OF canaigre
roots. But it is only recently that
the plants have been cultivated in
the cotton states, although in Cali
fornia and Texas it has been amply
demonstrated that this prince OF
tanning plants succeeds satisfact-
orily along all the rivers and valleys.
While the cotton farmers have been
looking around for some new crop
TO help them out Of their difficulty
a few of the more progressive ones
nave been experimenting with can
aigre, especially in Texas, through
out the whole length of the Pecos
valley, aud the success has been so
decided that many farmers are go
ing out OF the cotton business to
raise this more profitable plant. The
wild growth of these plants in this
state has largely supplied the trade
heretofore, but large shipments will
now be made OF the cultivated can
aigre.
1t has been demonstrated ia the
last year that canaigre will grow not
only where the wild plants are
found, but almost anywhere in the
cotton belt where there is sandy
loan OF moderate moisture. On the
sitter soils it does not do SO well,
but even there it will produce pay
ing crops. Some Of the more en-
thusiastic growers in Texas assert
that it will eventually prove as wide
spread in its growth as Indian corn.
1t is certain that it is one Of the
greatest boons to farmers in the
cotton belt. II is practically a new
crop in the south. and one OF ,x-
treme a'ue. Until recently the in-
dividual farmer in the south did not
take up cauaigre culture, and the
farms have been operated by large
syndica,es OF capitalists. The pro-
cess Of extracting the fannie acid
for tanning purposes is not very diff
fcult or elaborate, aud farmers
could do their own fermenting and
distilling at a very small expense,
and in this way increase their own
profits.
At Tovah in the Pecos valley there
is a large canaigre plant where the
fannie acid is extracted from many
tons OF the roots every season. The
farmers all through the valley supply
this factory with the roots, and the
industry is SO popular that the old
crops are being abandoned. Here
tofore the large factories have sim
ply sliced, dried, aud packed the
roots for shipment to New York,
Chicago, or Boston, where the fannie
acid has been extracted by secret
processes, but the factories down
here will soon do their own extract
lug aud ship the concentrated arti-
Gle to the large leather. making CEN
tiers. The dried roots take up con-
siderable room, and the cost Of
freight is so great that a good per-
centage OF the profit is eaten up.
With new buildings aud new pro-
cesses for handling the roots the in
dustry is expected to grow in this
state, while the cultivation OF cotton
will decline. As Texas is a cattle
raising state, by having the fannie
acids at hand it is thought that a
great tanning industry may spring
up here. SO far droves of cattle
have been shipped out Of the state
alive, and the carcasses have been
often sold for what many think the
hides often would bring if properly
tanned at home. Texas beef is not
very popular in the north, except
for the poorer class, and the prices
paid for it leave only a very small
margin Of profit for the growers.
a visit to some OF the canaigre
farms in tho Pecos valley gives one
more adequate idea OF the new
southern crop than any description
can. The farms are OF various sizes
and at this time of the year the
young plants cover the land with
their leaves. The planting is usual
ly done early in the fall, not later
than the lst Of November il posi-,
BILE, and by early spring they are in
blossom. Loose, sandy soil is select
ed, and after the ground is broken
thoroughly single roots Of the plants
are dropped in rows nearly three
feet apart and from six to nine inche.
,n..t IN tho rnws anI about fy.