The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-01

| this is due to climatic or soil
differences remains to be determined.
| The fact that large roots from the Cor
! gonio pass and from the Berkeley eco
nomic garden both Welded the MAXI
mum percentage $3.50, while the soils
are respectively at the opposite ex
trenres OF -sandinees and claysyness,
| would seem to indicate climatic factors
| as the more probable cause of difference.
At all events, it appears clearly that
the California.grownr root is likely to be
superior rather than inferiar to that
grown farther south.
As regards the relations OF tannin-
contents to color, analyses 4, 5, IL, IL
and IA furnish some interesting indica-
tons. 1t appeers that in Kern county
the capaigre is known as red
DOCK" probably more from it's red leaf
stalks and veins than because of the
color OF the root. There is variation
in the color which is expressed by the
popular names of white red" and red
red" dock while there is also kind
called white" dock. The latter, as the
table shows, is q different species and
contains only traces of tannin the
white red" has only little over 20
per cent; the ''red" (No. 1l) 20 per cent !;
the ''red red'' So per cent. 1t is thus
evident that in the case of the canaigre
as we'll as that of other culture plants.
there is considerable variation in the
quality of different varities and it seems
that the deeper the tint of the foliage
and root, the greater the tannin yield is
likely to be. Doubtless in the future we
shall be able to improve the canaigre in
this respect ae the sugar beet has been.
Pfrf 10 oil oil hnf hA 81
moisture and irrigation has q very great
effect in this direction, since we see that
the we'll irrigated plant from the expert
mental fold OF the Kern County Land
company near Bakersfield yields only
II 81, or about half as much as the best
wild plant.
Analyses /, 2 and show plainly the
effects OF drying in various ways. No |
was rapidly dried by steam heat after
cutting into very thin slices; No. 2 was
cut more thickly and placed in drier
on tray, as might be done on the large
scale No 3 was dried whole st q gentle
heat. 1t will be noted that while the
first contained an unusually high per-
centage, the second was reduced to less
than hall, and in the third, five.sixths
of the tanniu was destroyed by the
process.
Comparing the csnsigre with other
tanning materials given in the table. it
will be seen that the bark OF the black
waffle and golden waffle exceed the
root in tsnnin contents. The ques-
ton then arises whether, supposing
the two materials to be OF equal
quality ior tanning purposes, it will be
more profitable to grow canaigre than
the wat.les. An approximate compare
tive estimate for the crops will therefore
be OF interest.
Here tho time element comes in as an
essential factor. It takes eight or ten
years TO mature a waffle plantation; ;
the yield Of bark per acre is. for the fret
eight years (for the black wattle),
estimated AT about IL tons, be-
sijes possibly 100 cords of
wood, available for tirewood. This
estimate 10 based upon the
planting OF 400 trees per acre; clo,e
planting being desirable in order to
secure long trunks. Ths bark is worth
about SIS per ton in Australia. At thu
end of eight vears 20 acres will weld 240
tons of ouch bark (value $6000). plus
1000 cords of trunk wood, which would
barely bring So per cord in this country
Therefore SS0S0 represents the gross re-
turns for the 20 acres es against about
$1,000 cash outlay plus rent OF land, in
forest, wear and tear, etc. Tha clearing
OF the land for replanting would cost
from sac to $50 per acre, SO that $500 TO
$1,000 mus. be added to the the above
estimate Of cost; leaving the net re-
turns for the eight years about $1,000.
On the other hand we would have. in
the oaso of canaigre, estimating on the
coet of the cultivation OF eugar beets
,, and allowing for the differences in the
operations required, about $1,000 for the
eight years, plus again the rent of the
land, interest and wear and tear. In
return for this, at the rate OF 10 tons of
o0t3 per acre, there would be obtained
LOCO tons of fresh roots worth $4,000,
upon the basis of the price OF beets
only, viz, IS per ton. According to the
prices aa above estimated the outcome
of the eight years' culture wouldibe very
nearly the same for black waffle and
canaigre. But the returns from the
latter, unlike the former, would bear
interest during the eight years. and ths
| wide climatic range of the oanaigre
renders it much more widely available.
| This presupposes that the tannin of
| both plants will in commerce bring
| about the same prices. But it is well
known that the acacia tannin is not
available for the tanning OF fine feathers
| for the reason that it tends to render
them somewhat brittle. But if, az we
are informed, the tsnnin of canaigre
trheo -tanniu) is we'll adopted to all pur-
poses, including the finest feathers, it
will go far toward throwing the balance
still further on the side of the root as
against the trees, particularly where the
coat OF labor and capital his high.
| CONTENTS OF THE ROOT.
In its draft upon the soil ingredients.
the canHigre differs from the beet and
most other root crope in drawing
much leas heavily on potash. but more
heavily on magnsBia, and on phosphoric
aad sulphuric acids. The following ta-
BILE illustrates these points. The ash
analysis OF the root grown at this sta
ton, was made by Mr.. P. W. Tompkins,
q student in the agricultural laboratory,
That OF the sugar beet, placed alongside.
| is an average from European data: