282 
Italian  Sumac  Production. 
5  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\     April,  1921. 
increasing  immediately  from  the  start,  whereas  the  other  organisms 
seem  to  be  restrained  in  growth  and  in  some  cases,  decreased  in 
numbers.  The  germicidal  property  is  destroyed  by  heating  to  from 
8o  to  90  C.  (176  to  194  F.)  for  two  minutes.  Correlation  between 
agglutinating  and  germicidal  power  has  not  been  demonstrated. 
To  explain  the  latter,  one  naturally  thinks  of  a  serologic  origin  ; 
but  this  is  at  present  nothing  more  than  a  vague  hypothesis. 
ITALIAN  SUMAC  PRODUCTION  * 
By  Vice  Consul  Leroy  Webber, 
PALERMO. 
Sicily  is  the  largest  producer  of  sumac  in  the  world,  followed 
by  the  United  States.  The  annual  output  in  recent  years  is  esti- 
mated at  15,000  tons,  a  decrease  of  50  per  cent.,  compared  with 
pre-war  production,  due  to  the  lack  of  cultivation  brought  about  by 
war  conditions.  However,  it  is  believed  that  it  is  only  of  a  tem- 
porary nature,  and  with  the  increased  demand  there  is  expected  to 
be  a  consequent  increase  in  cultivation. 
Sumac  is  of  two  kinds — male  and  female.  The  male  species, 
which  is  found  in  the  Provinces  of  Palermo  and  Girgenti,  contains 
28  per  cent,  or  more  of  tannin,  and  is  therefore  the  better  of  the 
two.  The  female  leaf  averages  about  24  per  cent,  tannin  and  is 
generally  found  in  the  Provinces  of  Catania  and  Girgenti.  Both 
species  thrive  throughout  the  island  at  any  elevation  up  to  2000 
feet. 
There  are  about  eight  large  sumac-grinding  mills  in  Palermo. 
No  works  for  the  manufacture  of  sumac  extract  are  established 
here,  but  it  is  believed  that  with  the  present  indication  of  a  revival 
of  the  sumac  trade  such  works  will  be  constructed,  and'  plans  to 
this  effect  have  already  been  made.  Exportation  from  Palermo  is 
made  chiefly  to  Great  Britain,  United  States,  France  and  Germany. 
At  present  there  is  a  slump  in  the  sumac  market,  owing  to  the 
prevalent  opinion  that  prices  in  the  foreign  markets  will  fall.  Stocks 
are  now  available  in  Palermo  at  the  following  prices :  Ground  ven- 
tilated, 28  per  cent.,  73.60  lire ;  leaf,  28  per  cent.,  71.05  lire  •  and  leaf, 
30  per  cent.,  76.15  lire.  The  prices  quoted  are  f.  o.  b.  Palermo 
per  hundredweight  Yocum's  test. 
^Commerce  Reports,  1647  (March)  1921. 
