[Fig. 8] shows a mill for grinding sumach-leaves; it consists of a heavy solid circular wooden bed a, 15 ft. diam., with a depression around the edge b, a few inches deep and 1 ft. wide, for the reception of the ground sumach from the bed, and 2 edge-rollers c, weighing about 2500 lb. each, 5-6 ft. diam., and provided with numerous teeth of iron or wood, thickly inserted. Most mills have to be stopped to allow the unloading of the bed, but this delay is obviated by an apparatus consisting of an angular arm d, attached to a scraper e, and worked by a lever f, which passes through the hollow shaft g and extends to the room above, where it terminates in a handle h. The scraper carries the ground sumach to the opening i, whence it is taken by an elevator to a revolving sieve or screen in a room above. After screening, the sumach is packed in bags, 15 to the ton, being always sold by that weight. The chasers and beds are inclosed in a case or drum, and the grinding is done by the application of power to the upright shaft g. The mills are fed from above. The packing is sometimes done by machinery alone. The best mills cost about 600l. In Europe, and in some parts of the Southern States, sumach is still ground by stones revolving on a stone bed, and the sifting is often done by hand.
E. Coez & Co., St. Denis, near Paris, make a sumach extract. It is concentrated to a syrupy consistence in a vacuum-pan, and keeps well, exhibiting none of the acidity which is manifested by a simple decoction of sumach leaves. Sumach contains 16-24 per cent. of gallotannic acid, and is somewhat similar in tanning properties to myrobalans, but paler in colour. It is principally used for tanning morocco and other fancy leathers.
The district of Ancona yields 200 tons per annum of sumach, said to be equal to and cheaper than the Sicilian, but mostly consumed locally. Palermo exported of "ventilated" sumach to the United States 120,043 bags (14 = 1 ton) in 1877, and 50,085 in 1878, the average value being 14l. a ton. Trieste exported 7800 cwt. by land in 1877; in 1878, the shipments to England were 16,600 kilo. (of 2·2 lb.), value 1328 fl. (of 2s.), and in 1880, 91,800 kilo. 7344 fl. Rustchuk in 1880 exported 1400 tons, chiefly to Roumania and Austria. Our imports in 1880 were 10,573 tons, 133,249l. from Italy, and 1047 tons, 12,416l., from other countries; total, 11,620 tons, 145,665l. The approximate London market value is 15s.-16s. 6d. a cwt. for Sicilian, 10-11s. for Spanish.
Valonia (Fr., Vélanèdes; Ger., Valonia). This is the commercial name for the large pericarps or acorn-cups of several species or varieties of oak, chiefly Quercus Ægilops and Q. macrolepis. The former is found growing in the highlands of the Morea, Roumelia, the Greek Archipelago, Asia Minor, and Palestine; the latter constitutes vast forests in many parts of Greece, and especially on the lower slopes of Taygetos, towards Ætylon and Mani (Laconia). Prof. Orphanides, of Athens, alludes to a third species or variety called porto galussa, which yields a superior kind of valonia, and named by him Q. stenophylla. The chief localities of production in Asia Minor are Ushak, Borlo, Demirdji, Ghiördes, Adala, Nazlü, Buldur, Sokia, Balat, Troja, Aivalik, and Mytilene. The annual exports, mainly from Smyrna, reach 600,000 quintals (of 2 cwt.), value about 400,000l. In Greece, the production is chiefly centred in the following districts: (1) The province of Lacedemonia, which afforded 10,000 cwt. in 1872; (2) the province of Gythium, in the lower part of Mount Taygetos, which gave 60,000 cwt. in 1872; (3) the island of Zea, which formerly yielded 30,000-40,000 cwt., lately reduced to 15,000 cwt. yearly; (4) Attica, especially the neighbourhood of Cacossalessi, grows 3000-5000 cwt., shipped from Oropos, in the Strait of Chalcis; (5) the island of Eubœa, whence about 1000 cwt. are shipped annually at Bouffalo; (6) the province of Triphyllia raises 3000 cwt., which go to Trieste, viâ Cyparissie; (7) the province of Pulos, especially the commune of Ligudista, grows over 2000 cwt., despatched from Navarino to Trieste; (8) the province of Achaia has a yearly crop of 30,000-40,000 cwt., shipped to Trieste from Courupeli and Caravostassi, between Patras and Cape Papa; (9) the small towns of Anatolico and Astakos (Dragomestre) collect the valonia of the eastern parts of Ætylon, Acarnania, and Cravassaras (a port in the Gulf of Arta), and of all the other western parts, to be sent to Trieste for shipment to England and Italy. Ætolia and Acarnania furnish abundant crops, that of 1872 exceeding 100,000 cwt. The total area of the Greek valonia-yielding forests is said to be about 13,000 stremme (of 1191/2 sq. yd.). The total production in 1877 was estimated at 2,601,000 quintals (of 2 cwt.); the greater part is exported, about 2/3 going to Austria, and the rest to Italy and England. The proportions of tannic acid in the valonia from different districts of Greece are said to vary as follows: Patras, 19-281/2 per cent.; Gythium, 271/4-351/2; Zea, 121/4-251/4; Vonitza, 18-20.
In Turkey, the fruit ripens in July-August, when the trees are beaten, and the fallen acorns left on the ground to dry. The natives afterwards gather them, and transport them on camel-back to stores in the towns, whence they go by camel and train to Smyrna, and are there placed in heaps 5-6 ft. deep in large airy stores for some weeks, during which the mass heats, and the acorn itself, which contains but little tannin, and is used for feeding pigs, contracts and falls from the cup. This incipient fermentation is attended with considerable risk; if carried too far, a large proportion of the valonia becomes dark-coloured and otherwise damaged. When ready for shipment, the heaps are hand-picked, the best being reserved for the Austrian market (Trieste), and the rest going to England. In some cases, the rubbish having been removed, the remainder is known as "natural," and is thus exported to England.
In Greek commerce, three qualities are distinguished, chamada, rhabdisto, and charcala. The chamada (camata and camatina of Asia Minor) is the best; it is collected in April, before the acorn is matured, hence the cup which encloses the acorn is small and incompletely developed. The rhabdisto is the second quality; it is collected in September-October, and is distinguished by the fruit being larger and riper; the name means "beaten," the fruits being beaten down from the trees with sticks. After mid-October the collection ceases, because the first rains cause the fallen fruit to ferment or turn black, and they then take the name of charchala. They are distinguished by the cups being completely open, and containing no acorns. They are considered much inferior, possessing little tannin.
Pl. IV.
E. & F. N. Spon, London & New York.