The morning call., 1890-07-08
IVY AND SUMACH.
How to Tell That Which Is
Poisonous From the Harmless.

There need be no trouble in identi-
forms. The hairy trunk will often
serve US, but there are two other features
which are of much value. First
let US remember that its leaues are al
,cdys grouped in Mrees whatever the out
lines of their more or less wavy margins.
In some sections the plant is always called
the "three-leaved IVY" writes William
Hamilton Gibson In Harper's Young peo-
Pile. And this naturally leads me to a con-
sideration of that other vine with similar
habits which is commonly known in the
same localities as the "fue-ledued IVY" and
a leaf of which have here pictured under
the title of "an innocent victim" ms is
a leaf of the AmpeL0psis QuinquefoGG gum
QueOlid-flve leaves also called Virginia
creeper and wO0dbine. Look at the leaf,
and fix its form in your mind. This is one
of our most beautiful native climbers. 1t is
allied to the grapevine, is perfectly HARM
less, and is the one plant that has to suffer
from suspicion, being often destroyed un-
der the impression that it is the poison
ivy"
The writer knew of person who pos
sessed beautiful home upon the Hudson,
and whose deficiency in knowing of this one
little page of botany cost him severe loss.
His children were suddenly Frustrated with
poisoning. and one Of his ninth hour
neighbors came in to offer MN some
learned advice. Something in this style:
well, Squire. it's fetched 'en at last.
I've been tellin' Betsy all along that the
pesky stuff would ketch we arter while;
Well, thar, goodness and truth! Time an
time agin, when I've been goin' by the
gate an seen them air children playln' IN
feel 'tarnal ticklish. an I've sed
time and agin, an tole Betsy, SO
tew, that I'd bet my best gobbler
they'd be broke out afore week, an, now
they've done it; an if you take ny, advice.
You'll cut the pesky weed down an Durn IL
needn't look so surprised, Squire: Wnat
Pm telin' We is fer yure own good. Ihat
air weed is piZen-shunake, an itll nlgh on
to kill some folks"
Such advice. coming from a pr PRACTICAL
farmer in whom the squire" mad perfect
The vines which had EMPOWERED the beau
tiful arbor for generation were sawed OH
at the ground. And to think that a peep
into the botany mighthave saved them!
Four things need to be. committed 10
memory to insure safety against our poison
sumachs:
First-The hree-leaUed iuy is dangerous
Second-Ihe fUe-ledUed as harmless
Third-The poison-sumachs have Unite
berries.
fUurtn-N0 reQ-Oerrleu sunlacn Is poison-
Gus.
Both the poison-ivy and poison-sumach.
though unlike in appearance of foliage,
have similar white berries growing in small
slender clusters from the axis of the
leaves. In all other sumachs the berrie
are red and in close punches
the ends of the branches, and far
from being dangerous yield a frosty
looking acid which is most agreeable to the
taste, and wholesome Nithal. With these
simple precepts fixed in the mind. no one
need fear the dangers of the thickets. Nor
need any one repeat the hazardous exploit
of two young ladies whom l know. one OF
whom,as a Committee on Church Decoration
in country town, brought her arms full OF
the scarlet autumn branches of the venom
Gus sumach; while the other once sent the
writer IA really beautiful group of carefully
arranged rare grasses and MOSES gener-
ously decked with white berries Of the
poisonous ivy. Both of these rash mai.
dens, l believe, paid the severe penalty OF
their botanical innocence.