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94 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
San ANTONIO, TEX., June 28, 1868. 
DEAR Sir: I hand you with this letter a bag containing a quantity of dried bulbous 
roots of the plant cafiaigre. The chemist, F. Kaltyre, of this city, says that these 
roots contain 32 per cent. of tannic acid in its natural state (dried), while the im- 
ported extract of catechu of commerce has only about 40 per cent. of tannic acid. 
This root has no gallic acid in it, which is very objectionable as a tanning agent. 
Mr. Kaltyre did not analyze it with a view of ascertaining the presence of other 
foreign matter particularly, but only to ascertain the exact proportion of tannic acid, 
which he pronounced more powerful than any other known agent in its natural state. 
Will you please forward this root, and have determined if the plant be as valuable as 
represented? It can be cultivated very cheaply in this climate. It is a native of 
Texas. 
Yours, very respectfully, 
JCHN JAMES. 
S. P. Gambia, Esq. 
A letter similar to the above was, by Mr. Gambia, addressed to Pro- - 
fessor Joseph Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution, together with a 
letter from Mr. James similar to the above, and accompanying these 
letters a second parcel of the roots was also sent, which parcel, together 
with the letters above referred to, were submitted to the Department 
of Agriculture by Professor Henry, with the following indorsement : 
Respectfully referred to the Agricultural Department, with the specimens (in one 
small bag). 
3 JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary. 
Since the letter to Professor Henry differs in some particulars from the 
statements above given, the letter is reproduced: 
San ANTONIO, TEX., July 15, 1868. 
Sm: It is now some days since I forwarded by mail a package of 64 ounces of the 
dried roots of the caflaigre plant, used to some extent by the Mexicans in tanning 
hides. I addressed the package to the ‘‘ Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C.” 
These roots were found in the vicinity of San Elizario, county of El Paso, Texas, 
where they grow abundantly without cultivation. They were also seen growing on 
the banks of the Lympia, a stream in the vicinity of Fort Davie, Western Texas. I 
inclose for your perusal a copy of a letter I received from John James, esq., of this 
city, at whose instance I forwarded the package of cafiaigre roots. He wishes to have 
the roots fairly tested by some of your Washington chemists, and a report made if 
they are found to be of value, as it may save us the necessity of sending hides north 
to be tanned, if these roots can be used instead of the barks in use at the north for 
tanning leather. Vast quantities of hides are shipped annually to the north to be 
tanned that possibly may hereafter be tanned here, as the roots of the cafaigre plant 
can be raised to any extent in Western Texas, where the beeves are killed. 
At San Elizario a Mexican was found tanning skins with the canaigre root, and Iam 
informed that in the interior of Mexico the primitive setilers are in the habit of using 
this root in dressing hides. I suppose the cafiaigre root can be grown at an expense 
of about one cent a pound in Northwestern Texas, and transported to the sea-coast at 
say two dollars the hundred pounds. 
Very respectfully, &c., 
S. P. GAMBIA, Postmaster 
Hon. JOSEPH HENRY, 
Secretary Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 
An examination of these specimens, now over eleven years old, 
confirmed the great value of this new source of tannin, as will appear” 
in the chemical analysis. Correspondence was entered into with those in 
the vicinity referred to, and a quantity of the fresh roots obtained, some 
of which were subjected to analysis, and the remainder were planted 
with a view of developing the plant and determining its botanical re- 
lations. 
After a thorough examination of these specimens of cafiaigre had 
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