AMERICAN SUMAC. 
5 
KINDS AND CONDITION OF SUMAC DESIRED BY EXTRACT MANUFACTURERS. 
In eastern Virginia the dwarf sumac only is accepted, other species 
being positively refused. All contracts with gatherers specify that 
the sumac shall be of the dwarf species only. The leaves, leaf stems, 
and new growth of stalks if broken immediately below the lowest 
leaf stem are acceptable. The reason given in eastern Virginia for 
not receiving the white species is that it contains a much larger pro- 
portion of pithy, milky stalks, and yields less extract. 
In western Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and, hi 
fact, generally in the sections which supply northern mills, the leaves 
and leaf stems of all varieties, mixed or unmixed, are equally 
acceptable. 
PROPER TIME TO GATHER. 
Extract makers are opposed to the early gathering of sumac, even 
though the leaves apparently are mature. They state that the leaves 
gathered in May and June are light weight, do not yield as much ex- 
tract, and can not be handled as well in the extracting process. From 
the viewpoint of both gatherers and extract makers, the best time 
to gather sumac is in July, August, and September. Gathering may 
be continued until frost. The dropping off of the leaves, however, 
constitutes a loss, while the color of the extract made from red or 
poorly cured leaves is darker and less desirable than that made from 
light-colored, well-cured leaves. 
YIELDS PER ACRE. 
While sumac is very plentiful, especially in the eastern United 
States, it rarely covers thickly an area of any extent, but, inter- 
mingled with other vegetation, grows rather scattered in patches 
along old fence , rows, and on cut-over and burned-over woodland. 
Reports have been received that in certain sections it grows thickly, 
unmixed with other growth, and in sufficient areas to permit cutting 
with a mowing machine. Several cases of clean stand have been 
reported, but they have not come directly to the attention of the 
Bureau of Chemistry. A report has been received from eastern 
Virginia of a tract of from 10 to 15 acres of burned-over and cut-over 
land from which 5 tons of dwarf sumac (leaves, leaf stems, and cur- 
rent year's stalk) were gathered. An estimate by the bureau, based 
on the material gathered from a measured area 20 by 30 feet of white 
sumac, gave a calculated yield of 4,864 pounds (green weight) per 
acre. This would give about 1,621 pounds of cured sumac. 
QUANTITY A MAN CAN GATHER IN ONE DAY. 
Many factors may influence the quantity a man can gather. Some 
of these are the experience and alacrity of the gatherer, availability 
or lack of teams for hauling:, growth of sumac — whether dense or 
