The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-01
RUMEX HYMENOSEPALUS
PROFESSOR HILGARD'S REPORT
ON CANAIGRE.
Th- New Tannin Plant Promises to Be-
come = Profitable
Crop.

the Agricultural Experiment station
vt Berkeley. has issued the following
report concerning the cansigre or tan
ners' dock:
The cAnaigre or tannera' dock (Rumex
hymenosepslus) has of late attracted 60
much attention as a promising field crop
and forma the subject OF 80 many letters
of inquiry addressed to this station, that
it seems desirable to summarize for the
benefit of the public the various results
obtained and publications. made in re.
gard to il, here ae well as elsewhere in
order to enable everyone to form his own
judgment in regard to the probable mer-
lite OF the culture of this state. Thus far
the beat source OF Information on this
plant is Bulletin No. OF the Arizona
Experiment station, at Tucson.
The eanaigre plant, though recog niz-
able as a dock by any attentive observ-
or. differs from most OF the common
species in being of less height (rarely
over two feet in this state) and more
succulent; the stem rather brittle. the
]ance-sha ped leaves smoother and of a
lighter green than most others, quite
smooth. and red-veined. The flowers
AAd seeds are less abundant and larger
than In our other docss, are borne on
erect branches. and are suspended by
longer and thinner, Northumberland
stalklets. The iced vessels are con-
Bpicuously winged and reddish, with
very small black seed. The tuberous
roots resemble sweet potatoes 0, dahlia
roots; single ones wGigh from six to
founteen ounces zach. and from one to
four are found with single stalk.
The canaigre 10 indigenous to Southern
California ss far sscrth az the Kern val
lev. 30 far as known; it 10 more psrtic-
ularly IT home. however. south OF the
Tehschepi mountains, in the sandy
ioam OF the San Fernando and San
Bernardino plains; also in the Gorgonio
pass and on the border of the Colorado
cssert generally; also no doubt in the
alleys of San Diego. Outside OF Cali
iarnia it is apparently most abundant in
5rizona and Southern New Mexico, and
Va Northwestern Texas it reaches to
tab and the Indian territory. lts
sbundant occurrence in New Mexico led
the establishment OF factory for
repairing the tannin extract for ship
lent instead OF the root. and similar
Establishments we're proposed for Ari-
bna But il has quickly be-
ome apparent that the eupply
f the wild plant would soon
ecome exhausted, and that in order
b place the Industry upon permanent
Aasis il would he necessary TO grow IL as
3 regular crop. Now that the value OF the
cot for the tanning of fine feathers has
zen fully established and market is
ssured. the only remaining question is
hat OF the best conditions for its Guilt
alton, as to climate, soil, anu mode of
3ulturs. to secure pr oftable returns.
AS regards climate, it should be un-
erstood that in California the plant
itarts iss growth from the root with the
drst rains, in October OF Move IN Der
caches bloom about the end of January
r fret part OF February, peTfects it's seed
abcut April and dies down 20 the ground
IN May; VARYING according 10 the win
Ter Temperature ard tbs advent of epring
warmth. 1t is nc therefore TO be ex-
,scted that it will make a normal growth
who're the ground freezes in winter,
Though like come other culture plants
Il may be abls &c sdaps itsslf to diffsr-
mt regime so long as the root is not
frosted. We have not as yet any defin-
te data as TO what amount OF winter
old will kill the root.
AZ to soil, the presumption ia that,
ike other root crops. it will do best in
light soils, which IL seems to occupy
naturally by preference. Yet it has
made a good normal growth in
The heavy black adobe OF the
Economic garden at this station,
which, however, has, Of course been
sept we'll titled. 1t appears, therefore,
% be quite adaptable to variety OF
oils; she New Mexico station reports
adobe soil as its preferred ground, "hut
he term is evidently used there in a
iifferent sense. as designating the loans
II the character actually used for build
ng adobe houses: use for which the
average adobe of California would be
nsppiicable.
PROPAGATE
The easiest way to obtain stand OF
eanaigrs is to plant the smaller roots OBJ
tanned in harvesting the crop. These
develop rapidly, and according to the
observations made at the New Mexico
station will, when irrigated, quadruple
their weight in one season; they will
also in that case produce seed abund-
Sntly. One marked popularity of the
roots, remarked upon ell reports, is that
when cut, the upper portion
(the one having the root CROWN
will reconstruct its lower part
~ new growth, which differs markedly
from the older by its smoothness.
Propagation by seed seems TO occur
quite rarely in Arizona and New Mex
leo, as well az in California south of
the Tehachipi range. But with more
abundant moisture. as in the "Weed.
PATCH OF the Kern valley Ian ancient
channel still receiving some seepsge,)
and at this station when early rains oc.
chr. the fallen seeds eprout abundantly (;
and We will the coming season be ena-
bled 70 ascertain what advantage there
may bo in propsgating by seed. instead
OF deyosirg portion Of the root crop to
rsplanting. The seed must be sown
quite shallow and lightly covered when
the ground is moist.
When irrigated the roots will stand
close planting. Say or 10 inches apart
in rows 80 inches apart, &s in the case of
sugar beets. Since the roots are, on the
average. somewhat smaller than eugar
beets, the average crop will be some
what less in wsi2ht.
Canaigre roots will sometimes remain
in the ground during several successive
dry years without injury, growing as
.oon as the needful moisture comes.
This indicates the mode of keeping the
roofs for seed. viz. in dry sand or loan,
ina dry place. When kept in piles for
~ length of time the cauaigre root
L-ats aud apoils even quicker than the
sweet potato.
..t.-.x;1r I'LL ~ x,urt ha nva