AMERICAN SUMAC. 



9 



and off-colored leaves that would be satisfactory for tanning and 

 dyeing purposes when color is not the primary consideration. 



Some extracts made from American sumac show the same results 

 upon analysis as those made from the best Sicilian sumac, and con- 

 tain coloring matter not more than 20 per cent in excess of that 

 found in Sicilian sumac extracts. They can be bought at about 

 three-fifths the price paid for extracts made from Sicilian sumac. 



SUMAC EXTRACT. 



Formerly the users of domestic sumac bought the leaves or ground 

 sumac, which is the sumac leaf ground to a coarse powder, and made 

 their own liquors for tanning or dyeing from these materials. In 

 recent years- the grinding of sumac has decreased, and users have 

 bought sumac extracts instead. The price of domestic sumac 

 extract, which contains usually about 25 per cent of tannin and is 

 sold on the basis of its tannin content, has increased materially in 

 the past three years. In 1914 the quoted price per pound was about 

 3f cents; in 1915, from 3f to 9 cents; in 1916, from 5^ to 10 cents; in 

 1917, from 4^ to 5 cents; and at present (May, 1918), the price is 

 4+ to 5 cents per pound. A pound of extract contains approximately 

 the same amount of tannin as a pound of sumac leaf, if anything 

 somewhat less than a pound of the properly gathered and cured leaf. 



In making sumac extract the tannin is extracted with large 

 quantities of water which must be evaporated in expensive copper 

 pans under skilled supervision and at some expense for fuel. When 

 the extract is to be used, as much or more water than was evaporated 

 in making it is added to secure a tanning or dyeing solution of the 

 desired strength. 



DISPOSAL OF EXTRACTED MATERIAL. 



So far as can be learned, no really useful method of disposing of 

 the extracted leaves is in general use. The material is placed in 

 large piles or ricks, or used to fill in waste places. A small quantity 

 is used on farm land as a top-dressing to be plowed under. Analyses 

 of the commercially extracted material given in Table 5 show its 

 fertilizing value. 



Table 5. — Fertilizing value of commercially extracted sumac leaves and leaf stems and 



stalks. 





Part of plant. 



Mois- 

 ture. 



Cal- 

 cium 

 oxid. 



Potas- 

 sium 

 oxid. 



Phos- 

 phorus 

 pen- 

 toxid. 



Ash. 



Sample 

 No. 



Total. 



Cal- 

 cium 

 oxid. 



Potas- 

 sium 

 oxid. 



Phos- 

 phorus 

 pen- 

 toxid. 



32479 



Leaves and leaf 



Per cent. 

 5.70 

 5.33 

 4.59 

 4.59 



Per cent. 

 1.66 

 1.95 

 1.31 

 1.44 



Per cent. 



0.11 



.09 



.39 



.17 



Per cent. 



0.23 



.20 



.15 



.11 



Per cent. 

 5.13 

 5.32 

 3.43 

 3.24 



Per cent. 

 32.36 

 36. 65 

 3S.19 

 41.36 



Per cent. 

 2.14 

 1.69 

 11. 37 

 5.24 



Per cent. 

 4.48 



32482 



do 



3.76 



32479 



Stalks 



4.37 



32482 



do 



3.39 



