12 BULLETIN 706, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
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 (Rhus coyaUina L.), white (Rhus 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 tannin, practically as much as Sicilian sumac leaf. 
Owing 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 SI- 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 3f cents; 1915, from 3f 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 industry 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. 
TVASHIXGTQX : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE ', 1918 
