426 [Assembly 



have mouldered in the dust our children, and the children of the 

 country may enjoy their beauty, their shade and their fruit. For 

 such providence by the present generation, I would stimulate all 

 to the exertion, and even in thirty years hence many who are 

 here will enjoy the results of to-day. 



Solon Robinson stated the remedial efficacy of the sweet gum 

 as well ascertained, and then read from The ^gricidfor, on 

 Sumach, &c. 



CULTURE AND PREPARATION OF SUMACH. 



Palermo, May 30, 1850. 



Dear sir:— In reply to your letter of yesterday's date, on the 

 subject of the mode of cultivation of sumach in Sicily, I beg to 

 submit the following remarks : — 



Sumach is an article of commerce of great importance to the 

 Sicilians, as it is also with the Americans. And it is my opinion 

 that this article, so valuable for manufacturing purposes, for tan- 

 ning, &c., can be produced in the United States in sufficient quan- 

 tity to supply the world, if the mode of culture be understood and 

 proper attention paid to it. I have no doubt that is is the same 

 kind that grows in the United States, which there runs to the size 

 of trees. In Sicily they plant the roots or small plants frum two 

 to three feet apart, but always in regular rows, as we do Indian 

 corn ; hills about three feet apart, rows about four, so that the 

 plow or harrow can save the hand labor of the hoe. They hoe it 

 two or three times before the rains, j&nish in May, and gather it 

 in July and August. The leaves are the only parts made use of. 

 After being separated from the twigs by the threshing, (or in this 

 country both ways — by threshing and by treading otf with oxen 

 or horses,) the leaves are then ground to the state of fineness in 

 which you see it is in the United States, being passed through 

 sieves or bolting cloths of sufficient fineness, and put into bags of 

 one hundred and sixty pounds each. 



The proper season for planting the roots or plants is in Novem- 

 ber, December, and January. When the season is rainy, the 

 plants take root better. The root or stump is cut off from four to 



