BULLETIN 706, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the present none too plentiful supply of tanning 

 materials, 'of lessening our dependence on foreign countries, and of 



**> giva2.llie : pe3dre *in the rural districts an additional source of 

 - ^ e J-rv^ ! , i. e ,r.* ." 

 income. 



Sumac leaves have long been used in tanning leather and in dye- 

 ing fabrics. The value of sumac for tanning depends chiefly upon 

 the fact that it yields durable light-colored or white leathers, as a 

 consequence of which it is employed largely in the tanning of book- 

 binding, glove, and hatband leathers, and for removing darker 

 colored tanning materials from the surface of bag, case, and fair 

 harness leathers. Sumac-tanned leathers have been found to be 

 most durable and suitable for bookbindings and other purposes, 

 where the leather must last indefinitely. The greater part of the 

 gathered American sumac, however, is*used in the dyeing of cotton 

 goods. 



The sumac industry in the United States is of direct interest to 

 the country people of certain sections. It is largely a rural industry, 

 since the sumac is harvested and cured by the country people and 

 is sold through country dealers for grinding or for the manufacture 

 of extract. 



In recent years the quantity of sumac gathered has been much 

 smaller than formerly. Cheaper materials for making light- 

 colored leathers are in use, while the demands of dyers have 

 not been large. American sumac, owing to careless gathering and 

 curing, yields a darker colored leather than the sumac imported from 

 Sicily, and, since sumac is used for tanning light-colored leathers, 

 this quality renders the American product less desirable and de- 

 creases the demand for it. Another reason for the small amount 

 collected is that the gatherers often earned less than could be made 

 at other kinds of work. 



While it is true that American sumac, if properly handled, will 

 make an excellent substitute for Sicilian sumac, consumers of sumac 

 must realize that the first step necessary for the production of a 

 high-grade sumac similar to the foreign article is proper gathering 

 and proper curing, which can be accomplished only by offering as 

 an incentive a price commensurate with the labor and the quality 

 of the product. The better the sumac the better should be the price. 

 In this way mutual benefit will be gained and much will be done 

 toward materially developing the domestic sumac industry. 



Statistics probably do not indicate accurately the quantity of 

 sumac gathered in the United States, because careful records are not 

 kept by gatherers and dealers of the amounts collected and used. 

 The figures for domestic production given in Table 1 were compiled 

 from the Census reports, and the figures for the imports from the 



