AMERICAN SUMAC. 5 



Ontario and near the eastern coast in the Eastern and Middle 

 States, south to Florida, and west to Minnesota, Missouri, and 

 Louisiana. 



PRESENT METHODS OF GATHERING AND CURING. 



COMMON NAMES USED BY GATHERERS. 



Sumac is commonly termed by the gatherers either "black" or 

 " white." " Black " sumac refers to dwarf sumac (Rhus copallina) , 

 and "white" sumac usually means white sumac (Rhus glabra), al- 

 though it is believed that this term is sometimes applied also to stag- 

 horn sumac (Rhus hirta). Staghorn is not so extensively gathered 

 as white sumac. In some sections, as in eastern Virginia, only black 

 sumac is collected, while in others, such as the western part of 

 Virginia and in West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, small 

 quantities of white sumac also are gathered. 



KINDS AND CONDITION OF SUMAC DESIRED BY EXTRACT MANUFACTURERS. 



Dwarf, or black, sumac is the only variety desired by extract 

 makers, other species being refused because, it is stated, they contain 

 a much higher proportion of pithy, milky stalks, and yield less ex- 

 tract. ' All contracts with gatherers specify that the sumac shall be 

 dwarf, or black, only. The leaves and stems of the sumac alone are 

 of value. The stalk is useless. While small, short new-growth stalks, 

 broken off close below the leaf stem, may be accepted by the buyer, 

 the chances are that they will be refused or received at a reduction in 

 price. Gatherers are advised to take particular pains to see that 

 their sumac contains very little stalk and no berries. Berries are of 

 no value to extract makers. 



PROPER TIME TO GATHER. 



Extract makers are opposed to the early gathering of sumac, even 

 though the leaves apparently are mature. They state that the leaves 

 gathered in May and June are light in weight, do not yield as much 

 extract, and can not be handled as well in the extracting process. 

 From the viewpoint of both gatherers and extract makers, the best 

 time to gather sumac is in July, August, and September. Gathering 

 should not be done after frost, as the leaves then drop off readily and 

 the color of the extract made from red leaves is darker and less 

 desirable than that made from light-colored, well-cured leaves. 



YIELDS PER ACRE. 



While sumac is very plentiful, especially in the eastern United 

 States, it rarely covers thickly an area of any extent, but, inter- 

 mingled with other vegetation, grows rather scattered in patches 



