The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-10
4 NEW SOURCE OF WEALTH.
A Root That Promises to BE a Money
Crop in Florida.

Orlando. Jan. 9.-There arrived in Or
lando yesterday a car load Of canaigre
root for the purpose Of an experimental
plantation. The root came from Mona
haus. near FL Paso, Texas. 1t was ship
per by Mr.. r. J. Kerr to Mahlon Gore,
who will attend TO the experiment at this
end OF the line
This is comparatively a new plant in the
commercial world. It was found grow
ing in a natural state in the arid regions
OF New Mexico, and Arizona. But eN-
pertinent shows that it responds wonder
ruby 10 cultivation the roofs growing
twice 10 four times the weight under cui-
.uvatiOn of that found growing wild. Its
value consists in the large percentage or
fannie acid contained in the root. This
Is readily available. and easily eXtracteQ:
At first the roots were dug on the wild
prairies, and after being sliced ana drled
were shipped principally TO Glasgow,
Scotland where they commanded about
forty dollars per ton. Among these was
Mr.. Kerr, who now has extensive plan
tations in New Mexico. Old Mexico, Ari-
IONA and Texas. Analysis shows the
roots to contain twenty to thirty per cent;
of fannie acid and it is easily extracted
and rendered available for use.
In the experiments conducted in the
west IL seems to thrive best in sandy,
friable soil. 1t is in such land that the
roots attain the largest size, and thus
far it seems TO do best in poor lands.
year or two ago Mr.. Kerr sent small
quantities of the root to different por-
tons of this state to have it tested. The
result was so satisfactory that he visited
Florida in October last, and While here
arranged with Mr.. Gore for planting on
a somewhat extensive scale. Preparations
have been quietly conducted for some
time Mr.. A. G. Branham was enlisted
and he now has fifty acres of land pre-
pared for immediate planting. The work
will begin to-day and will be pushed with
all possible Dispatch as the season IS
already well advanced. 1t is winter
lin IA NWFN
November to April. when the top dies
off, and If not dug the roots remain dor
mant through the summer. 1t grows and
thrives through the frosts and winters
of New Mexico and Arizona, and there
fore will never find cold enough in Flor
ida to injure it. Mr.. l.. c. Smith,
small quantity of seed root year ago,
which he planted. It is now making a
strong and vigorous growth, and he is so
well pleased with it that he is prepar-
ing to plant two or three acres more at
once. Mr. Smith is a practical tanner,
and has tested the acid. He believes
that it is destined to supplant oak and
hemlock bark as source of tannin
for the use of the leather makers.
This experiment may prove OF great
! value to farmers of Florida who are
| looking for a reliable money crop. Prof.
A. Il. Blount of the College of Agricul-
| ture New Mexico, gives the yield under
| cultivation az ten tons per acre, and the
! October number Of the New York Leather
| Manufacturer gives the value Of the green
| root az Sc per ton The sliced and dried
| root sells readily in Glasgow Scotland,
| at $40 per ton. The demand is practi-
/ cally unlimited.
This section of the state escaped injury
| from the recent cold wave. From the
| alarming nature of the predictions of the
| weather bureau, it was feared that we
were to have repetition of last winter S
| disaster. But, beyond a couple of very
| slight frosts, which did no damage, we
| escaped the cold. The mercury only went
| as low as "a degrees. Not a leaf on the
/ young shoots of the orange trees was in
| 1ured, and we now confidently hope to
| escape damaging cold this winter.