258 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



like Indian corn, four and even six feet apart each way, and two plants in each hill." New 

 England Farmer. 



On the Cultivation and Production of Sumach, 



A CORRESPONDENT of the Scientific American furnishes the following information relative 

 to the sumach, several varieties of which grow spontaneously in our own country : Sicilian 

 sumach is imported largely into this country from Messina and Palermo, arid some of in- 

 ferior quality is also used, which is grown in Germany and Trieste ; if the sumach of this 

 country can supply its place, the object would be worthy of the attention of our agriculturists. 



Sumach is extensively used in morocco-tanning, in calico-printing and dyeing. There are 

 three species used in dyeing the Rhus glabrum, the Rhus coriceria, and the Rhus cotinus. 

 The first two only are used in tanning. The first is the common sumach of North America, 

 and is much used by our country dyers, and, to a limited extent, by our tanners. The an- 

 nual shoots or peduncles, with their leaves, are gathered, and in this country are mostly used 

 without grinding. 



It is well known that the most astringent vegetables, or those containing the largest por- 

 tion of gallic acid, are brought from warm climates; and the following facts will prove that the 

 quality of the sumach depends on the warmth of the climate in which it grows. The sumach 

 in Europe is the Rhus coriceria. That which is grown in the north of Europe, and imported 

 from Trieste, is no better than our Northern sumach, excepting a small portion grown in the 

 Tyrol, and even this is not superior to the best American grown in New Jersey ; whereas 

 that grown in Sicily, Syria, Spain, and Portugal, where it is cultivated with great care, is 

 found by experience to be vastly superior to that from Trieste, and sells much higher. A 

 similar difference is observable in the sumach grown in this country. That from the south- 

 ern side of New Jersey is superior to the New York, and that from Virginia to the New Jer- 

 sey ; and there is no doubt that if raised in the Southern States, dried with care, and ground 

 fine, it would be equal to the best imported. 



Sumach should be cut or gathered in clear weather, and should be so spread on a floor as to 

 dry rapidly; for, if only a small part should ferment, the whole mass will be seriously injured. 

 It should be finely ground when dry, and packed in bags. No rain or dew should fall on it 

 after cutting, for even the damp from the hold of a ship will greatly injure its quality. 



It has been stated that the American sumach will not reproduce from the seed, and if this 

 be true, there would be some difficulty in extending the article to a great extent by field cul- 

 tivation. Sumach is said to be hybridous, in which case plants from Sicily planted among 

 our glabrum would enable the seed of both to reproduce, and in this way the cultivation 

 might be extended at pleasure. 



The Rhus cotinus, or Venice sumach, is also an important article in dyeing. It is known 

 in England as young fustic ; the stem and trunk of the shrub, and the root, are extensively 

 used in Europe for dyeing golden and orange-yellows. The leaves and stalk, when bruised, 

 have an aromatic, but pungent and acid scent. The plant is grown in our nurseries, and sold 

 as an ornamental shrub. It is by some called the fringe-tree, and by others the burning-bush. 



The cotinus is cultivated by layers. The stalks sent to market in Europe are from one to 

 two inches in diameter, with the bark taken off. There is considerable white sap outside, 

 and dark -yellow and orange-colored rings inside, the latter being the coloring matter. The 

 leaves from this wood, when cut, are gathered, dried, and ground with the other sumach. 



The Neio York Tribune has the following article upon the production of sumach : 



"I was brought Tip to the woollen business in Western Massachusetts, and have not only 

 cut and cured, but used tons of sumach as an ingredient for dyeing. The only reason why 

 American sumach is inferior to the imported article is that old growths are used. If it is cut 

 every year and nothing but the new growth saved, it is doubtless equal to that which comes 

 from abroad. Foreigners, who make it an article of commerce, cut, cure, and sell the growth 

 of each year, so that it is full of coloring matter. We used to cut over our growth each 

 year, and thus keeping it down, the sprouts were abundant and of the first quality. Sumach 

 generally grows in rocky, worthless land, and, if managed properly, will yield more value in 

 sumach than it could be made to produce in any other crop with the addition of careful and 



