AMEEICAN SUMAC. 5 



KINDS AND CONDITION OF SUMAC DESIRED BY EXTRACT MANUFACTURERS. 



In eastern Virginia the dwarf sumac only is accepted, other species 

 being positively refused. All contracts with gatherers specify that 

 the sumac shall be of the dwarf species only. The leaves, leaf stems, 

 and new growth of stalks if broken ipamediately below the lowest 

 leaf stem are acceptable. The reason given in eastern Virginia for 

 not receiving the white speciies is that it contains a much larger pro- 

 portion of pithy, milky stalks, and yields less extract. 



In western Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and, in 

 fact, generally in the sections which, supply northern mills, the leaves 

 and leaf stems of aU varieties, mixed or unmixed, are equally 

 acceptable. 



PROPER TIME TO GATHER. 



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

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

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

 tract, and can not be handled as well m 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 may 

 be contmued until frost. The dropping off of the leaves, however, 

 constitutes a loss, while the color of the extract made from red or 

 poorly cured 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 tliickly an area of any extent, but, inter- 

 mingled with other vegetation, grows rather scattered m patches 

 along old fence rows, and on cut-over and burned-over woodland. 

 Reports have been received that in certain sections it grows thicldy, 

 unmixed with other growth, and in sufficient areas to permit cutting 

 with a mowing machine. Several cases of clean stand have been 

 reported, but they have not come directly to the attention of the 

 Bureau of Chemistry. A report has been received from eastern 

 Virginia of a tract of from 10 to 15 acres of biu-ned-over and cut-over 

 land from which 5 tons of dwarf sumac (leaves, leaf stems, and cur- 

 rent year's stalk) were gathered. An estimate by the bureau, based 

 on the material gathered from a measured area 20 by 30 feet of white 

 sumac, gave a calculated yield of 4,864 pounds (green weight) per 

 acre. This would give about 1,621 pounds of cured sumac. 



QUANTITY A MAN CAN GATHER IN ONE DAY. 



Many factors may influence the quantity a man can gather. Some 

 of these are the experience and alacrity of the gatherer, availability 

 or lack of teams for hauling, growth of sumac — whether dense or 



