Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-09-22
SHmac.

he SlcilIan Sumac is rather tender shrub for
any latitude north of New York 1t would succeed
IN New Jersey and to the south of it. With regard
10 our native snmac we have four, and perhaps five.
species that possess sufcency of tannin TO render
than valuable for domestic use and for commerce
It Will be requisite to test them all in order to select
Inc preferable species for extensive culture The
species found so common in neglected fields and along
the roadsides is the Rhus gtabrum producing crimson
berries in large clusters, and it is this which has
been already made of to some extent, more es,
pecaily IN Connecticut, and other eastern States
lis usual hight is about II feet taller growing
species IS also quite common and is the RluS typhi
mum 1t usually attains the hight of 10 to II feet
or more. with small clusters of dingy red berries
third species is RhuS cOpallinum, which is quite
common in dry woods and fields, more especially
where the soil is sandy. This species has more re
sembiance to the SiciIian Sumac than any other
American species, in its foliage, and its gray bark
and growth. Ii attains height of d to 5 feet and
produces dull, redish berries in small clusters
should incline to the belief that this is the preferable
native species for tanning, and fortunately it is dis
semlnated far 10 the south and west though seldom
found north of New York. The Indians Of the Mis-
slsslppI and Missouri make use of the leaves of this
species as tobacco. fourth species is Rhus aro-
nmt1cum which is not found in this State, or to the
north or east of it. It's most northern limit is Penn
sylvana, thence extending to Carolina and to Ken
lucky. This is shrub Of about four feet in height
with rfOllnte leaves, which distinguish it from all
ties. The leaves, when rubbed, emit IL veIy strong
odor. The four species have described do all pos
sess annln to greater or less extent A fifth spe-
cles, in regard to which have doubts, is the Rhus
rernlT, OF polsonsumac tree This is found usually
in low grounds, and atans height OF eight 10 ten
feet. The leaves are pinnate, and resemble those of
the ash so much, that it is often called poison ash.
lis berries are white Every part of this small tree
is POISONOUS, not only III lis growing state, but as
am assured by those who have suffered from it, even
when vegetation has ceased and no sap is flowing.
Having now reviewed all the species which may be
applied to the object desired will refer to Chinese
species, Rus SuCCeddnum, from which the red lac is
AIDE, ard which might be introduced and cultivated
here. It. Is singular that many useful and so many
poisonous shrubs should be comprised in genus
In addition TO the poisonous species already de5crb
ed, we have in plenty around us RhuS torcOdendran,
Oh poison ivy, vine which runs many fen
ces, and climbs many trees; and in Pennsylvania
and Virginia, RhuS UiUidfOrum, also very poisonous
and there is also RhuS pumHu:n, dwarf shrub
found most plentfully in Vermont and Lower Canada
and also SAID to grow in Upper Carolina, which is
deemed the most poisoning of all. In California
they have the yeTda, or RhuS Uride, which abounds
In the mining DISTRICTS growing under the oak trees
and is the only plant there that looks green and
Aourishing during the torrid heat of summer. Mos
wofully have the miners suffered from this poisonous
plant In the Island of Java there is poisonous
species, Rt,tS Jaudnicum, celebrated for its dele
terious properties that has sometimes been confused
with the bohon upaS tree of fabulous notoriety.-
There is another species found at Macoa, and one in
Barbary, and above a dozen species natives OF
the region about the Cape of Good Hope, but Of
these the peculiar properties are unknown.
IT, S. Economist