The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-25

lon Gore. mayor Of Orlando. and one who
mas mad charge OF the canalgre experiment
the trials that had been uade He also
nao 81 exhibition samples OF roots that
nld been grown since January. showing
tAal WIN oqly halt a cnance u had done
well The canaigre fEumeX hymeu0seua-
llsl IS winter growing plant OF fh- =awe
order at the dock and sorrei. The latter
is Wei known 10 our orange growers all
over me state, for in the sprlns al groves
not cultivated are red with the seed
slatks- IL Is one Of the plants from which
oAalic acid IS obtained Belonging to
sucn a hardy family and cont aiming such
~ 4luau propertles-tannic acid which is
advancing every year m value owing 20
the decreased production of oak and hem
lock bark. we cannot but feel that there
must be future for IL as n staple crop of
our state. one which, while NOT bringing
any great return. viii pay well the farmer
for his time. use of land. and energy. ana
capital invested in its cultivation and pre-
pararlOn for market.
Cana gre was FIRST introduced into Flor
ida about two years ago. through Mr.. X.
J. Kerr OF Hockey, Tex, who Tor years.
root as grown in Arizona and New Mex
leo The results Of his experiments were
such that he felt warranted in putting
out large field which he did near Orlan-
do. Being in that city last week We
thought il good time to see for our
selves what was really being done.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. A. G. Bran
nam We saw fOrty-acre field that was
planted as late as Jan. Is TO p. II was
perfectly evident that the canaigre had
not mad fair show, for besides being
planted in the middle of its growing sea
son, il had maiden cane TO contend with.
and being planted on a ridge had suffered
from drought We do not know Of any
thing that should be planted on a ridge
in the high pine land of Florida.
If canaigre will make a fair growth
with all these Disadvantages il certainly
ought 10 do well when IL has more con
genial surroundings" and a whole season
to grow in We are Informed that a
Va an 11ra rfal,
treer OF weeds had produced better and
more roots thus showing that the plant,
although growing wild in Arizona and
mexico, IS very sensitive 10 tame treat
ment. and We would not he surprised If
the yield was trebled if planted in Aug
ust or September and kept free from
weeds. While 1t will grow amid weeds
and neglect, 1t stands to reason that IL
would do better If encouraged by having
the whole neld to itself. We have not
much fatth IN lazy mans" crop, that
is one that will suit him, for il IS sure
to reveal him in the results. What is
worth having is worth working for. and
canasgre can not prove the exception
- owing to the high freight rates from
1e&dS the cost Of seed is high. much more
SO than 1t will be in year or two, when
me state Will produce enough to supply
the demand. In saving the seed practi-
cally nothing is lost, as il is only the stem
end that is required while the balance OF
seed but ii requires two years to raise mar
ketable roots, while from the root cuttings
they are grown the same year ii Is planted
The preparation Of the green root for
market is simply to cut in slices and dry
IN the sun of an evapOratOT 1t requires
512 pounds of green root to give one of
dry. With this crop il is not necessary
10 market at any one time as the root will
keep Indefinitely. Even the seed roots if
dried up so that there is no appearance of
life, will start out when planted in moist
soil.
1t is hoped that enough will be raised in
the state to warrant the building of an
extracting establishment. which ought to
make the root more valuable. Mr.. Kerr is
very sanguine as to the results in Florida
and we understand he is ready to make a
three years contract to take all that is
raised at stipulated price per ton f. o. b.
cars. The question then is can the farmer
produce It at a profit at the price offered?
We should give 1t a trial.