662 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



shape to be irrigated, and seed on the ground, the cost of growing 



is somewhat as follows: 



Plowing and preparing land per acre $3.00 



Planting with machine 2.00 



Irrigating and cultivating 8.00 



Digging with machine 2.00 



Water rental 1.50 



Total $16.50 



Cost of hauling roots from field would depend on distance 

 to factory or station. Cost of seed is not included, for the seed 

 roots planted will be harvested with the new growth and are richer 

 in tannic acid than when planted. This estimate is for growing 

 fields of from 100 acres up, sufficient area to warrant the use of the 

 necessary machinery. On plantations of 1,000 acres or more, sta- 

 tionary and portable tramways with horse cars, such as are in use on 

 the large sugar plantations in Louisiana and Texas, will be desirable 

 to reduce cost of hauling roots from the field to the factory. With 

 the tramway the plantations may extend several miles from the 

 factory without making the cost of delivering prohibitive. (Ariz. 

 E. S. B. 7.) 



Certain peculiarities of canaigre seem favorable to its agricul- 

 tural future: 1. It grows in winter, when water is more abundant 

 throughout the arid region. This fact may render possible the re- 

 clamation of large tracts of land for which there is not sufficient 

 irrigation in summer. 2. The climate is mild at this season of year 

 and labor is therefore more comfortable and effective. 3 In case of 

 extreme drouth the crop is not lost but the plant simply stops 

 growth and waits for better conditions. 4. Harvesting may occur 

 at any time, the mature crop remaining in the ground indefinitely 

 without injury, and even with a certain amount of improvement 

 (Ariz. E. S. B. 21.) 



So far as analyzed, the tannin in Canaigre roots ranks higher 

 by many per cent than oak or hemlock barks, sumac, pine, elm, 

 horse chestnut, valonia, kino, divi-divi, plum, and pear, but less 

 than the renowned gambier, catechu, and nutgalls. the last of 

 which, contains as high as 65 per cent tannic acid or twice that of 

 the Canaigre. According to the tanner's reports, all these materials 

 have different effects on leather, or in other words, tan leather of 

 different grades, some making different colors and different leathers 

 in quality. Canaigre differs from all these and all others in its tan- 

 ning effects and is so superior that it commends itself prominentlv 

 to all who are in any way interested in the leather business. 

 Mex. E. S. B. 14.) 



Assuming that it will cost $3 a ton to raise Canaigre, which is- 

 a higher estimate than is usually given, and that it can be sold at $5 

 per ton, a crop of only ten tons to the acre would bring a profit 

 of twenty dollars per acre, not counting interest on the invest- 

 ment or cost of repairs. When the work of raising Canaigre is 

 compared with that of the common field crops of the arid South- 



