The herald., 1897-09-17
The CANA|GRE INDUSTRY
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

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The manufacture of tannin from the
canaigre root is quietly developing into
great industry. This root grows wild
in all portions of Southern California,
Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas
ard northern Old Mexico, being success
fully and extensively introduced in the
tanneries Of both the United States and
Europe. The southwestern portion Of
the United States must furnish this
rapidly growing market.
Several years ago factory for the
manufacture Of tannin extract from
canaigre was established at Deming in
New Mexico, under the management: Of
c. B. Allaire. This factory cost about
100000. The process of manufacture il
similar to that of making sugar from the
sugar beet. For some time the supply
exceeded the demand for the new arti-
Gle of commerce, but gradually the de-
mand increased from both the United
States and Europe until the factory
could not fill its accommodating orders.
This factory depended entirely upon
| gathering the root that grew wild in
that territory. and the work Of gath
ering proceeded until there was practi-
| Cdlly AO lIlOIt " US lldQ W4lnlA a o0A0o
| of many miles about Deming.
Mr.. Allaire became convinced that ths
| time had come when the root must be
cultivated and grown on large scale to
supply the market which was opening
up. Therefore last year he planted an
experimental plat to ascertain in what
way and under what conditions the tu-
bers could be most profitably raised, IL
indeed it could be raised with profit at
all. The experiment in some respects
did not prove satisfactory, but 1t show-
ed concusively that the plant could be
successfully and profitably raised and
that was the main proposition at stake.
Mrs. Allaire took a piece of heavy
| clay loan soil that had been covered
with sand and cultivated for two years
so that the sand had become mixed with
the clay to depth of one foot. For one
year prior to being planted this soil had
not been plowed and it was not cultivat-
| ed at all during the period of the growth
| of the canaigre, although it had been
| irrigated four times-once on the 9th
| day of December, once on the 9th OF
March, again on the 9th day of April
and again on the 9Th day Of June.
| This experimental planting was COM
menced on the I'd day of October, 1895.
and continued at intervals until the 9Th
| day of March, 1897. The early planting
| date in the fall) was the best. The tu-
bers are dormant during the summer
season and will not begin. to grow until
| the commencement of cool weather. In
fact it is thought that planting even ear
lier than October might be better.
The roots are planted about five inch
es in depth with a spade. They should
be planted just deep enough to prevent
damage by the drying of the surface
soil.
The heavy soil experimental with II
not so good for canaigre as lighter
soil. Mr.. Alaire suggests sandy loan.
as rich in nitrogenous matter as possi-
| BILE, as being better on the whole than
clay loam; although in a clay loan
| the yield seems to be very satisfactory.
The ground should be plowed to depth
of foot especially if a little heavy, and
| should be prepared so that it will irri.
gate easily.
The plant makes its growth entirely
during the winter and spring months.
| and no amount Of cultivating and irri-
| cation can start it to grow in the fall
until cool weather sets in, nor will It
continue to grow in the summer time
after hot weather sets in. For this rea-
SON the irrigation is confined to the
winter season, when the water Is not
needed for other purposes.
The planting should be as close to-
gether as is compatible with good cul.
tivation and thorough irrigation. Two
rows foot apart, then space of thirty
inches and then two rows more a foot
apart is recommended. The plants are
| ,;~y ,,o1,1e np~t tv,< <I.xn
rows This gives each plant a surface
area six inches by twenty-one in which
to grow. 1t can be cultivated in this
way only on one side of the row. This
gives 24,S91 plants to the acre.
Canaigre can be grown either from
the seed or from the tuber. The seeds
are about the shape Of buckwheat, only
about half as large. A seed will produce
but single tuber in a season and that
will be small, while tuber, If planted
will produce from two to five more tu-
bers and the original plant will increase
in size many fold and become richer In
tannin than before it was planted.
1t is an easy matter to improve the
canaigre stock, just as the sugar beet
is improved, by selecting the best beets
to produce the seed to be planted again.
In this way the size and shape of the
canaigre tuber can be improved and ito
richness in tannin can be increased.
Seeds can be planted with better effect
near the coast where there is more
moisture in the atmosphere and the
rains come more frequently to keep the
| ground from drying out. AS practical
proposition, however, it seems best to
plant the tubers.
From the experiments made last sea-
son by Mr.. Allaire, it seems safe to con.
clude that a small crop of canaiD 10
would be not less than five tons to
acre. a good crop fifteen tons to the acH6,
and the ranchers could safely rely on.
average of ten. tons per acre.
Three tons of green tubers Is
| quired to make one ton of the dri u
product. The green roots yield from
to twelve per cent Of tannin. 1t is,b
lieved that this can Re materiallylij
creased, both as to y&d and richne
by careful selection & tubers for se
for few years.
| 1t does not seem impossible that
time an average of fifteen. tons per ae
yielding IL per cent tannin may be rd
ized. If this can be done at a cost of