1837.] 



On the American Sumach. 



363 



ON ThE AMERICAN SUMACH.* 



The American Sumach, of which an experimental cargo is now on 

 its passage to Liverpool, is the product of a tree which grows abun- 

 dantly in many parts of South America, and possesses properties 

 which render it decidedly more valuable, both to the Dyer and Tanner, 

 than either Oak Bark, Catechu, Kino, Sumach, or the best Aleppo 

 Galls. It contains, according to the able and scientific analysis of Mr. 

 Samuel Rootsey, of Bristol, on a mean of two experiments, 76.25 per 

 cent, of soluble or extractive matter, while Galls yield only 59.166645, 

 Sumach (common) 40, Kino 40.4167, Catechu 67.08335, and British 

 Oak Bark 30 per cent. Its most important constituent, however, in a 

 commercial point of view, is tannin, or that principle which, by its 

 union with animal matter, constitutes leather, of which the same expe- 

 riments shew it to contain a mean of 51.1680 per cent, while the best 

 Aleppo Galls yielded only 35.45835 per cent., Sumach 0.95834, or less 

 than 1 per cent, and the best British Bark 13.4167 per cent. A tabular 

 view of the results of Mr. Rootsey's experiments may be seen in 

 Jameson's Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, and an abstract of these 

 results in the Gardener's Magazine for August, 1834, under the name 

 of Dividivi. 



The substance has been largely and profitably employed in the 

 tannery of Mr. John N?thersole, near Kingston, Jamaica, for some 

 years past; and, from trials which have been made in England by 

 skilful professional Tanners, it has been ascertained that one part of 

 the American Sumach is equal to four pounds of the best British Oak 

 Bark, and tans the leather in two-thirds less time ; whence there results 

 a gain of not only two-thirds of materials, but also of two-thirds of 

 time. To the Dyer it will prove still more valuable — while Chemists 

 will find their advantage in substituting it for Galls in the manufacture 

 of Ink, in forming ointments for the cure of haemorhoidal complaints, 

 &c. &c. Taking the per centage of tannin as a standard of comparison, 

 the intrinsic value of the American Sumach is equal to 1.443, or about 

 l\ of the best Aleppo Galls— hence the market value must always be 

 estimated from the current price of that article. 



Persons wishing to make trial of this new article, are requested to 

 apply (post or carriage free), to Messrs. Vianna and Jones, Liverpool, 

 to whom the cargo is consigned ; to Mr. Samuel Rootsey, Chemist, &c. 

 Bristol; to Messrs. Baikwill and Sons, Chemists, Old Town-Street, 

 Plymouth ; or to Dr. Hamilton, late Secretary to the Royal Devon and 

 Cornwall Botanical and Horticultural Society, by whom every informa- 



* See paf?e 338. 



