El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-21
CANAI6RE GROWING
Valuable Information On the Root
From a Chemist Who Has Ex-
perimented With 1t.

Ell PAso, Texas, May 10, 1900.
Editor Ell PASO DAILY HERALD:
Dear Sir.-I have read with interest
your letter on canaigre in yesterday's
issue.
had the privilege OF experimenting
the somewhat extensive experiment is
made in the cultivatirg of canafgre in
the Pecos Valley during the years
1893 to 1896. We had about forty fields
of canaigre growing there under diff
ferent conditions of soil, moisture and
care, and l visited these fields every
month, taking samples and analyzing
the contents of tannic acid in the root.
am therefore particularly interested
in this plant and know something of
its ways and its needs.
I notice in your letter that you say
tubers may be harvested any time,
at the most convenient time for
the grower 1 presume the most con-
venient time would be when The tuber
contains the highest percentage of tan
ming materials Is 1t would be most
valuable then. This time does not
extend over q long period butts just
as the root begins to sprout for the Sec
ond years growth. A one years crop
occupies the ground for about twenty
five months.
AS to tanning material l have found
It to vary much in different varieties of
plant and if the farmers around Ell
Paso should think OF growing cansiRre
for market it would be we'll to be some
what careful in selection of seed.
While the yellow variety only makes 20
per cent of tannin the red variety will
run up to 30 per cent and over
IL &c ems to me that the Rio Grande
lands are exceptionally we'll suited to
the successful growth of the canaigre.
but 1 would not care to hold out pros
poets of yield (sversge) of over ten
tons to the acre even here. In the
Pecos Valley, in chose n lands, our big
gest yield was IL tons per acre on two
and q ha|f acres, and our average was
much less. 1 would from experience
put the cost of raising crop of
canaigre at about $50 per acre, and
this does not include harvesting, the
cost of which is-rather predetermined,
depending upon the implement used In
raising the tubers.
The main difficulty with the crop,
apart from the fact that 1T occupies the
land for a long time, is in the harvest
ing. The tubers are deep seated, es-
pecislly in sandy soils, and a special
harvester after the order OF a potato
digger should be designed for it.
AS to the want for cauaigre 1 en-
dorse all you say. The article is in de-
mand and steadier production would
bring a bigger demand and prices are
good and not likely to lower.
There is in cansigre the possibility
OF . great industry: this town-the
heart of big system of railways-is
specially fitted to exploit the bust
ness and there are lands in plenty on
these railroads, along the Rio Graude
and Pecos and,their various tributaries,
where the plant can be grown with
little risk of disappointment.
There is money in the crop for the
farmer who understands its needs and
there is good money to the factory pro-
ducing the extract.
L shall be glad to answer any ques-
lions relating to canatgre at any time,
and letters to COS San Antonio street
will always find me.
I am, dear sir,
Yours very truly,
E. M. SKEATS.
Analy tical Chemist and Consulting
EpQipeer