Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-05

man system il taken into the stomach sn.t,
are the nighi-shade, the henbane, Inc low
laurel, or lamb-kill, and perhaps hundred
others. But all these may be handled and
even chewed with safety, if not swallowed, as
their evil efects are only communicated to the
system through the almentary organs. Az
present. therefore, shall confine myself 10
stating few general rules BY which one NAV
learn readily to identify the two poison su-
machs, which are our only infectious plants,
the only ones that resemble the upas.
will commence with the poison Dopwoed
or Sumach (Rhus venenats.) This is a verv
beautiful shrub or tree, found mostly in wet
places, and seldom or never on dry plains. Il
Is smaller tree than the common Staphorn
Sumach, having leaves and branches ressm-
bling those Of the latter, except that they ars
smaller, smoother, and more delicate. There
is an air of remarkable primness about this
tree, and it would probably be singled out
from whole thicket Of miscellaneous trees
and shrubbery, on account OF its singular deli
cacy and beauty. The branches Of the present
years growth are of a fine purple or crimson,
and as glossy as ifthey had been polished. Il
has the appearance Of tropical plant, and is
the more dangerous, as the beauty Of lis slen-
der branches and pinnate leaves would tempt
one TO select it TO add 10 boquet Of flowers.
Fortunately 1t bears no conspicuous flowers or
fruit, and the same may be said of the poison
IVY Hence the young rambler may always
feel sure, If she encounters u strange plant
with beautiful flowers, that it is harmless, and
may be handled with impunity. The Florida
Cornel being likewise called Dogwood, is or
ten dreaded by the novice on account Of its
name but il is perfectly innocent. Nature,
like benevolent parent, never guides the in
sect 10 a poisonous flower, either by the beau
ty of lis form or colors, or by the sweetness Of
its perfume.
The other infectious plant is also sumach,
called the poison vine, poison ivy aud some
times poison oak. Il is the Rhus radcans Of
Bigelow's Plants of Boston. II is vine, and
derives its name of ivy from its habit of grow
ing parasiiically upon walls and fences, rocks
and the trunks Of old trees. II resembles the
ivy in no other respect, having deciduous
leaves, aud Of difieren, shape from those Of
the celebrated ivy OF romance. 1t bears a very
strong resemblance, however, to the common
American creeper (Ampelopsis) and as these
two plants are continually mistaken for one
another, it is important to learn how TO dis
tnguish them. These marks Of distinction,
when once made apparent, are easily recog-
nized and remembered. Let every young
rambler, then, take notice that the poison ivy
bears compound leaf divided constantly into
three leaflets, one central and terminal and the
others arranged, one on each side OF it, at
right angles, resembling the leaf Of bean
vine. The creeper on the contrary, d perfect
ly innocent plant, has compound leaf, which
is pdin'dte, and divided into fire Leaflets, radi-
ating from common centre, like the leaf of
the horse chestnut. By thess differences, the
two plants may always be distinguished -
The young botanist may be sure that if the
vine in question has fire leaflets, il is the creep
er il it has three leaflets. only, it is the poi
son vine.
am the more particular in impressing these
facts upon the minds Of the young student, be-
cause feeling OF security is necessary to ens.
Bile them TO obtain full enjoyment of botan-
ical excursion. These facts, therefore, ought
always to be taught as one of the preliminaries
to the study Of botany. 1t is likewise u well
established fact that after any person has once
been poisoned BY either of these plants he be-
comes thereafter more susceptible OF their in
feciious influence, and this susceptibility in
creases with every attack. Indeed some per
sons have been thereby rendered SO highly
susceptible, that the whole atmosphere of any
woods that contains either of these plants,
seems TO be infectious to them, and will pro-
duce an attack of swollen face and eyes, whoa
ever they visi, the woods.
Every young person, therefore, sheald make
it a rule to avoid handling these plants, even
if they have good reason for believing that they
are exempt from their baueful influence. On
the contrary no one should be afraid TO handle
any plant that bears beautiful and conspicuous
flowers. No such plants in our woods are
dangerous to handle, though shey may not all
be safely eaten. But when the aowers Of any
plant are fragrant as well as beautiful, it is an
evidence that the plant is harmless in every
respect. The fragrance of the blossom 10 one
of the surest tests of the wholesomeness of the
fruh, and Of the general harmlessness ct the
plant. The poison ivy grows in almost all
places. There is hardly an old stone wall that
is not festooncd with it, il is more common
in this vicinity than the creePer; but it may
be easily avoided, and if not handled will sell
dom affect Que injurieusly Country Journal.
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