75 



of the Texas sumac. For tanning they use Gambier or 

 Terra Japonica, and an extract of oak bark. 



Gambier or Terra Japonica, is an astringent substance, 

 sometimes called catechu. It is made by boiling and evap- 

 orating the brown hard wood of the acacia catechu, until 

 tke juice acquires a proper consistency when strained, and 

 ~ when cool, coagulates. Imported from the East Indies. 



The importance and great value which would result to 

 the State, if the hides which are annually exported were 

 tanned in Texas, leads me to dwell on this subject,and ap- 

 pend the following article on the tanning properties of the 

 mesquite tree (Algarobia glandulosa), a geniis belonging to 

 the same family as the acacia. The wood of the mesquite has 

 a resemblance to that of the acacia catechu, from which 

 the Terra Japonica is made. The article is from' the pen 

 of the; Rev. J. M. Wilson, wlio has during many years, 

 been principal of high school at Seguin. It was originally 

 published in the Texas Almanac. 



Mesquite ,d Superior Tanning Material. 



Besides the value of mesquite for various purposes indi- 

 cated, it is destined to be a source of vast wealth to Texas 

 and the world, as one of the best known materials for 

 tanning and manufacturin'g leather. During the war, 

 , when we were shut out from' tlie world and cut off from 

 the sources of our suppily of the necessaries and comforts 

 of life, we found ourselves under the necessity of meeting 

 these wants from our own resources. Leather was '&u ur- 

 gent necessity. Dr. J. Park, then of Seguin, an intelligent 

 gentleman of a scientific turn of mind, directed his atten- 

 tion to the examination of the materials for tanning to be 

 found iu Western Texas. He tested the various barks 

 usually used, and found the black jack the richest in tan- 

 nic acid, live oak the next, and post oak to have the least 

 of the oaks. He then examined the mesquite, and found 

 that the whole body of the wood was rich in tannin. He 

 ascertained that" the wood was fully equal to the bark of 

 the black jack in quality and quantity — that it abounded 

 ib tannic acid. This was an unexpected and very impor- 

 tant discovery. He made practical tests of it, and found 

 it promptly acted in converting the hide into leather of a 

 good quality. He improvised, a chopping machine by 

 which he reduced the wood and put it into a form to have 



