296 
Absolutely pure sumach should contain from 30 to 32 per cent. of 
asg ithhnic: br Pure femminello, on the other hand, would only: 
contain from 22 to 26 per d of tannin (oxalic acid), and 16 to 18 
per cent, tannin, as gallo-tannic acid. However, perfect purity in 
_sumach is only a chemical expresiot mh never appears on the market. 
satisfactory quality, and o; r strength than is generally 
sold, would be two-thirds of genuine rote sumach and one-third 
fem minello, and this should give an average T shout t 29. per. cent.. 
tannin (oxalic acid) and 20 per cent. of tannin as gallo-tannic acid 
(when properly ground and mixed). The following figures show the- 
value of sumach exported to the United States from Palermo for the 
year 1894 ;— 
Date. | Value. 
z $ e 
Quarter ending— 
March 31 s " E z i 89,614 78 
TET ; " - 51,853 12 
$E TE Tn : 40,132 50 
. December 31st - - - - " 109,473 78 
Total^^ oe E 391,074 18 
. The last paragraph of the above report has been slightly modified in 
expression: It is still, however, at first sight not quite intelligible. 
Professor Chureh, F.R.S., has obligingly furnished the following 
explanation : —* I find that the amount of potassium permanganate 
e o 
weight of sumach are capable of reducing the same amount of perman- 
ganate.as 80 parts of oxalic acid; it is calculated that this: figure: 
corresponds to 20 parts of gallo-tannie acid.” 
CCCCLXXXIX.—LIBERIAN COFFEE. 
A note with the most.recent information on Liberian coffee was 
published in the Kew inis ial 1895, p. 273. This also contained & 
list of articles that have i on the subject in the Bulletin during 
the last five years. Where suitable facilities do not exist at the place o 
production for cleiming ‘Liberian coffee the following ame in 
regard to cleaning it in London will be useful to planters. Messrs. 
Major and Field, who have favoured Kew with a le duró on the subject. 
have had ovo experience in dealing with shipments of Liberian 
coffee to this country :— 
Messrs. Masor AND Fietp to Royan Garpens, Kew. 
Red Lion and Three Cranes Wharf, 
` Upper Thames Street, 
= Dear § Sm, | . London "o. C., November 14, 1895, 
n _ As our fete to Ee of the 3rd pointed out, the reference in our 
letter of March — lished in the Kew Bulletin (1893, p. 130-132), 
