The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-01-21
| ANA UF
SOME USE
Bark to be Tested
for Tanning
Purposes.

The lantana bark as a material for
tanning is one OF the future CONNER
cial possibilities for Hawaii. Whether
the plant which has so long been con-
sidered weed OF such obnoNiousness
as to destroy every other form OF veg
citation in close proximity has COM
mercial value Is a question which is
soon to be decided by the Department
OF Agriculture at Washington. If the
experiment does prove successful there
is no one in Hawaii. but will bless the
day the agricultural experiment station
was established on Tantalus hill. Even
the most sanguine. whatever their feel
ing towards the dreaded lantana,
would never have ventured the belief
that the much abused weed would or
could ever be of any value to Hawaii,
and even yet there Is little possibility
of success. However, the fact that the
Washington department is willing to
spend time and labor upon the examina-
ton of the lantana with u view of dis
covering possible tanning properties is
sufficient to permit of some hope that
the obnoxious weed may yet prove OF
value.
Jared G. Smith, director In charge OF
wrote to Washington about a month
ago, suggesting that possibly the lam
tana bush which covers thousands of
acres of land in Hawaii might be OF
some value for tanning purposes. The
tanning barks in the United States arr
becoming exceedingly scarce because of
the increased demand, and there has
been a constant search for some sub
stitute to replace the product of the
fast-depleted forests. Mr.. Smith said
yesterday that he was not at all posi-
tive that the lantana bush could be
utilized as a tanning agent but he be-
lieved the matter of sufficient impor-
lance II warrant Il test, and for that
reason communicated with the depart
ment at Washington with Il request
that II be investigated lie thought
there was considerable doubt of the
success of the experiment, but in view
of the immense tracts of lantana bush
covering the islands an examination
into the properties of the plant might
be productive of good in other ways.
The lantana Is a native of Mexico,
where it Is cultivated for hedges and
gardens. 1t was introduced into lIa-
wall by DR.. Hi!debrand a good many
years ago as an ornamental hedge, but
1t rapidly outgrew the purposes for
which 1t was originally brought here,
and now covers thousands of acres, be-
ing looked upon as a weed, which is
destructive of all other vegetation in
it's vicinity. Efforts to stamp out the
pest have been wholly unsuccessful.
and the thick growth has deprecated
the value of large acreages of land.
which might have been valuable for
other purposes
Mir. Smiths letter to the Washington
department brought the following reply
in the last MALL
Il have referred to Prof. VIM. II.
Krug of the Bureau of Chemistry, your
letter of December 10th in regard to
the tanning properties OF lantana ca
mara. Mr. Krug is giving special at
tention to tanning substances, and Is
anxious to find some substitute for our
American barks, which are becoming
exhausted.
II can find no record of the use of
the plant in tanning. The ony refer
ences to it which ! have consist of n
statement in Meehan's MONTHLY of
June, 1895, to the effect that IT was
becoming abundant and troublesome as
a weed in the Hawaiian Islands and
me statement in watts Dictionary of
Economic Plants that it was trouble
some as a weed where it had been in
troduced in India. Yours sincerely,
. LISTER II. DEWEY.
Assistant Botanist.
' While there Is little encouragement in
the letter that the lantana might be
Lseful FOR tanning purposes, the de-
partment is still willing to make the
analysis of the plant with a view to
hlding If it cannot be utilized for the
purpose suggested by Director Smith.
II the bark once became of some COM
mercial value it would not be long be-
fore the islands were cleared of the
lantana which now runs riot wherever
1t Is given the smallest leeway. The
pant grows with the rapidity of
weed here, both the climate and soil
being exceptionally suited for its Guilt
vition. 1t would be a strange turn OF
fate If the once despised lantana
should become OF sufficient value to
make its cultivation profitable.
Mr. Smith intends to forward a large
number of plants by the next steamer
for the promised examination by Prof.
Krug.