The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-25

to date seem to indicate that yield OF
from twelve to eighteen tons per acre can be
safely relied on under favorable conditions,
which is certainly sufficient to be profitable
II the price shall continue from So to 81 per
ton, as at present. OF canaigre some
$4,000 tons will be required annually in
this country alone to take the place of the
imported Gambler used at present.
UP to the present time nearly all of the
canalgre root finding its way to market
has been harvested in it's wild state, no
systematic effort having been made to
produce it as cultivated crop. though it
has commanded attention, and we believe
number of plantations have been
started. About 400 carloads of the dried
and sliced root have been shipped abroad
during the past few years from Arizona
and New Mexico, while the extract works
situated at Deming have exported con-
siderable quantities of the essence to
Eastern tanneries and abroad. In Glas-
gov, Scotland, the dried and sliced root
is quoted at from $35 to $40 per ton. Con-
slant cropping has already played havoc
with the fields of canaigre within reason
able distance of the railroads, and unless
husbanded and cultivated this source OF
supply will soon become exhausted. 1t
can hardly last more than two years at
the present rate of destruction.
The horticulture and agriculture of the
arid region by means of water develop
ment and irrigation is constantly affording
new surprises and disclosing hidden wealth
from unexpected sources. Thus we see
canalgre-a species of dock-for years
growing innocently by the Wayside, its
economic value unknown to man. But
now that the value of its tannic acid has
been established it bids fair to become a
crop of the first importance to the farmers
OF large portion of the arid West. Being
indigenous to those regions it f1ourishes
with but little attention, is not so subject
to peculiarities of soils and climates as
many other crops, and hence is more GER
tain to yield profitable returns to the
growers. Since the supply OF oak and
hemlock bark is being rapidly diminished
in this country, it follows as a natural Sc
quence that tanning material must be Sc
cured from other sources. The culture OF
canaigre on a commercial basis seems to
offer constant supply, profitable alike to
grower and consumer.
The subject has commanded some atten-
ton in California, and where conditions
are favorable, its successful cultivation can
be reasonably expected. We believe there
are portions of the San Joaquin Valley
where some effort has been made to pro-
duce it in quantities. Other localities are
also giving it attention. AS the country
develops and becomes populated it will be
found that certain crops are best adapted
to certain areas-as the cotton is the
plant of the South, corn of the Mississippi
Valley, wheat of the Dakotas, and so in
time canlgre may be the principal product
OF large section of the arid regions, pro-
ducing the tanning material necessary to
the manufacture of leather with which to
shoe great nation. But like all new ven
lures, we suggest it should be approached
with caution, by first giving it expert.
mental culture before planting on large
scale