12 BULLETIN 706^ U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



information can be obtained from the various State agricultural 

 experiment stations or from the Bureau of Chemistry, United States 

 Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



SUMMARY. 



Sumac grows wild and abundantly on uncultivated lands, particu- 

 larly east of the Mississippi River. Country people, especially the 

 elderly and women and children, can make good wages from June 

 to September by gathering and curing sumac. Imported sumac is- 

 scarce and high priced. Domestic sumac, if properly gathered and 

 cured, can be largely substituted for imported, and should bring 

 better prices than domestic sumac as now cured. 



Before beginning to gather sumac be sure to arrange fully and 

 clearly with the dealers as to: (1) The quantity which they will buy 

 from you; (2) a supply of bags; (3) the price per hundred pounds; 

 and especially (4) an extra price for well-cured sumac leaf. 



Practically the only kinds of sumac gathered in this country are 

 dwarf (Blius coyallina L.), white (BJius glabra L.), and staghorn (Rhus 

 Mrta (L.) Sudw.). 



Domestic sumac as now prepared for market contains less tannin, 

 and is much inferior in color to imported Sicilian sumac. 



Properly gathered and cured domestic sumac leaf contains from 

 25 to 30 per cent of ta^nnin, practically as much as Sicilian sumac leaf. 

 Omng chiefly to low quality, due to careless gathering and curing, 

 the gatherer has received in recent years a low price for sumac, from 

 60 cents to $1.10 per 100 pounds. Carefully gathered and properly 

 cured Sicilian sumac leaf sells in this country at from $2.50 to $4 per 

 100 pounds. 



A better product, both in color and tannin content, is obtained by 

 proper gathering and curing and by the separation of the stalks. 



Domestic sumac extract, containing 25 per cent of tannin, in 1914 

 sold at about 3 J cents; 1915, from 3 f to 9 cents; 1916, from 5| to 

 10 cents; 1917, from 4^ to 5 cents; May, 1918, 4"^ to 5 cents per 

 pound. 



The development of the American sumac industiy and the pro- 

 duction of bright, uniformly and properly cured domestic sumac can 

 be accomplished only through the earnest and whole-hearted cooper- 

 ation of the buyers and the gatherers. The buyers must make every 

 effort to stimulate the proper gathering and curing by offering better 

 prices and through careful instructions in proper methods of gather- 

 ing, curing, and packing. The gatherers must respond by following 

 exactly the directions set forth in this bulletin and the instructions 

 and advice given by the buyers. 



Gatherers should consult their State experiment station for the 

 names and addresses of buyers of sumac and of sumac extract makers. 



WASHIN.rrON : GOVEUNMENT ritlNTING OFFICE : 1918 



