No. 133.] 427 



six inches above the ground. The scions or sprouts spring up 

 four to six out of each root, and when in maturity, which in this 

 island is in July or August, they are cut ofl' at the stump, and 

 laid in small handfulls (not spread out much, as the sun will turn 

 tlie leaves yellow) to dry ; say for a day or so ; great care being taken 

 that no rain falls on them. Perhaps in this country it may ans- 

 wer to plant nearer tosether than would be advisable in America, 

 on account of the greater heat of the sun here, and thus shade the 

 ground better. 



The leaves are ground in mills mostly by horse power, but 

 water or steam power would be much cheaper and better. The 

 perpendicular running stones weigh nearly 3.000 pounds ; they 

 run double or single round an upright shaft. The nether 

 or foundation stone is heavier and one-third greater in diameter 

 than the running stones. The grinding surface of tliese latter is 

 slightly lough, being occasionally touched with the pick or cold 

 chisel. Hard granite stone answers ; here they use a volcanic 

 stone, which is as hard as marble. There follows round the run- 

 ning stones a little piece of wood, that keeps the leaves all under 

 the stones. When ground fine enough, it is sifted or bolted in a 

 large tight room, with a door to enter and fill the bags. In Sicily 

 the article is more or less adulterated with spurious stuff, such as 

 other kinds of leaves, and an article called brucca, which resem- 

 bles the juniper bush in New England; this has no value in 

 itself 



I believe the first year they do not cut oflf the sprouts. In the 

 second and following years a curious Ireak of nature produces 

 a single plant, a foot or so distant from the original root ; and 

 this little plant it is which they usually make use of to transplant. 

 Now the plow or harrow would prevent these from growing as 

 they Would be in the track ; and this may be the reason why they 

 hoe it. Still I tliink the plow or harrow must be used in our 

 country, and some way or other contrived to save these little 

 plants, if wanted. I would recommend you to let me engage to begin 

 with this mode of cultivating sumach. Let one or two young Sicilian 

 farmers be hired to go to Virginia for two or three years, who un- 

 derstand the cultivation not only of sumach, but also of oranges 



