This business, which received its first impulse in this country through the writings of Dr. J. H. Houghton in the Gardeners' Monthly, has, especially at Petersburg, in Virginia, reached large proportions and become a very important industry. The receipts of leaves this year will aggregate over 7,000,000 pounds. Three large factories are kept in constant operation, and their products find ready sale. The Virginia sumac is said to be the best in the market, and has latterly superseded the foreign article. Many hundreds of country people make their living in the summer and early fall seasons by gathering the leaves, and for hundreds of miles around the country contributary to the Petersburg market.