The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-03-23
GROWING SUMAC.
The Passing Of an Important By-
Product of the Farmer.

The passing of the sumac business is
one of the noticeable features in our
East Virginia agriculture. Some twenty
or thirty years ago this was an inn
portant by-product of the farms
throughout the eastern half of the
State, and large quantities Of the ar
ticle were cured every year. especially
in the regions tributary 10 the cities
Of Petersburg. Richmond and Fred
erickShurg. in each OF which cities
there were several mills established
for grinding the raw product
But either on account Of the uncer-
taiuty Of the animal supply aud fuctu-
alton OF prices or because the foreign
Sumac. being admitted duty free
proved too strong competitor, the
Virginia industry soon began to Ian.
guiSh. ana has now become practically
extinct.
or course there were. and are. rea-
sons for this decadence. Our people
are generally at no loss 10 find profit
able employment for their hest skill
ami labor. And rs no attempt was
made 10 advance the business by culti-
walton or TO give the plant that atten-
tion which every staple really demands
in order 10 make 4 good profit, II is not
continue 10 hold the vantage il had
gained. And now, unfortunately. II
has. for the time at least. passed away,
and one Of the resources of our farms
that might have been made quite prof
table promises 10 become again one
of the neglected things.
Yet the time may come once more
when ii will be found advisable and
profitable 10 revive this branch OF ru-
raj industry at the South. There is
reason 10 believe. were proper pains
taken 10 grow the sumac plant and
cultivate il in orchards the same rs
fruit trees are cultivated. that IL would
prove To be immensely profitable. The
plant grows here luNuriantly, and even
in the wild state, where it is crowded
and impcdcd by other plauts. ii yields
large quantity Of leaves. One hand.
operating along the forest sides and
hedges, may collect several hundred
pounds of the green leaves in n day.
The process of curing ii Is rs simple
rs that of curing hay. OF course. were
culture rcSorted To, the yield would be
greatly increased. and a hand could
gather much more of IL in day.
The gathering and curing is Il work
that would suit well the women. chit
drcn and feeblcr members ef u family,
and thus another branch OF industry
would be opened up, 40 give profitable
employment and bring in extra dimes
10 our industrious and deserving rural
lists. This is consideration Of con
siderable Importance.
The Sumas-thc variety used for tan
ming purposcs-is plant that grows
and thriVeS well on poor land. A ma
tive here, like the field pea. ii seems
admirably adapted TO our Southern con
ditions and agriculture. 1t would be
an easy matter to plant the roots In
| long rows for orchard culture. Being
a shrub. great many Of the plants
could be set upon an acre Of land and
one or two p'Owings during the earlier
part Of the GUNNER no doubt would be
ample cultivation for the crop. The
intervals between the rows might be
Sown annually to scarlet clover or cow
peas, for stock 10 craze upon. ana for
the benefit Cf the sumac orchard. No
stock would browse upon or harm the
sum,c bush. and. in this way, many an
acre of wild land might he converted
into good Dasturagc and become "A
source OF revenue from the harvesting
OF sumac.
The present source Of the sumac
supply Of this country seems to be
Sicily and other countries o. the Medi-
terranean. The supply is not equal to
the demand good authority states
that the percentage Of tannin In the
imported sCmac Is not equal TO that
OF the Virginia leaf. while the amount
Of sand Is greater. Good samples or
Virginia sumac yield thirty 10 thirty
five per cent. II tanlc acid, and are
practically free from sand. Were the
industry revived, and due pains taken
I'm the cultivation OF the plant and the
curing Of the leaves, there is no doubt
but tie quality and quantity Of our
own staple would soon force all for
eign sumac from our markets.
At the same time the large and ever
increasing demand In this country for
material for tanning purposes would
insure to the American sumac grower
a ready and profitable market for all
he could produce. steady demand
at stable prices could be counted on.
Thus. In another field OF industry. our
people would find exercise for their
Skill ana the home merchant and man
ufacturcr would become independent
Of foreign trade.-Home and Farm.