300 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
T Phubarb—continued. r 
-mushroom-houses, or any structure where there is 
temperature of about 55deg. or 60deg.; if subjected to 
a strong heat before growth commences, the rootstocks 
are liable to decay. Plants about three years old are 
best for forcing, but, where such are not at command, 
older ones will do, though the crowns will most likely not 
start so readily, nor will the leaf-stalks be so strong. 
Forcing under glass, or in a mushroom-house, is by far 
the most satisfactory plan where it can be carried out; 
all that is necessary is to place the roots nearly close 
together, scatter a little soil amongst them and over the 
tops, and water occasionally. In the open ground, 
Rhubarb forcing may be conducted by placing large 
flower or seakale-pots, boxes, &c., over the roots where 
they have been growing, and burying them with a good 
depth of fermenting material, composed of stable litter 
and leaves. Forcing may commence indoors about 
November; a supply would not be readily obtained out- 
side at that season, as the necessary heat could not be 
so steadily maintained. 
Sorts. Of these, the following are amongst the best 
in cultivation: 
CHAMPAGNE (Hawke’s), early, deep red; an excellent variety for 
eneral culture, good in all respects. EARLY RED, one of the 
t early varieties, much grown in market gardens; the leaves 
are shining and somewhat glaucous. GOLIATH or MONARCH 
(Stott’s), vigorous ; leaf-stalks broad and very large, LINNÆUS 
(Myatt’s), a good early sort of fine q 
uality, excellent for forcing. 
PARAGON (Kershaw’s), very distinct; stalks well formed and 
firm; early. SCARLET DEFIANCE (Baldry’s), stalks crimson ; 
leaves large; a good second early sort. VICTORIA (Myatt’s), 
stalks very large and thick, of good quality; a well-knoWn an 
excellent variety for summer use. 
RHUS (from Rhous, the old Greek name of the 
genus used by Theophrastus). Sumach. Including 
Lithrea. ORD. Anacardiacee. A genus comprising 
about 120 species of stove, greenhouse, or hardy trees 
or shrubs, mostly possessing poisonous properties in a 
greater or lesser degree; they are found in the temperate 
„regions of both hemispheres, being especially abundant 
at the Cape of Good Hope, but rarely occur within the 
tropics. 
terminal, bracteate panicles; calyx four to six-parted, 
persistent, the segments imbricated; petals fonr to six, 
equal, much spreading, imbricated; stamens four, five, 
six, or ten. Drupes small, dry, compressed. Leaves 
alternate, simple, one to three-foliolate, or impari-pinnate ; 
leaflets entire or serrate. “Some American species, such 
as R. venenata and R. Toxicodendron, produce effects 
almost rivalling those once fabulously imputed to the 
Upas-tree of Java (Antiaris), the hands and arms, and 
sometimes eyen the whole body, becoming greatly swollen 
from simply touching or carrying a branch of one of 
these plants, and the swelling being accompanied with 
intolerable pain and inflammation, and ending in ulcera- 
tion. These effects, however, are not felt by everyone, 
some people being able to handle the plants with im- 
punity ” (Lindley and Moore). R. Coriaria affords the 
sumach or shumac of commerce. From R. Cotinus the 
yellow dyewood called. Young Fustic is obtained. A 
selection of introduced species (which are hardy, de- 
ciduous shrubs, except where stated otherwise) is given . 
below. The greenhouse kinds will grow in any soil, and 
may be increased by ripened cuttings, inserted jn Sand, 
under a hand glass. The hardy species are very suitable 
for shrubberies. Some of them propagate freely by cut- 
tings of the roots, and others by cuttings and layers. 
(aromatic). ji. pale yellow, in clustered, — 
an 
crushed; 1 ts three, rhombic-ovate, unequally 
e. ; 
cut-toothed, the middle on -shaj h. 
North America, 1773. Syn. — yen cd pay — * 
R. atomaria (undivided). A synonym of R. villosa. 
R. caroliniana (Carolina), A synonym of R, glabra, 
R coccinea (red). A synonym of R. glabra. 
Flowers small, polygamous, in axillary and | 
BRhus—continued. 
copallina (gum-copal). fl. nish-yellow, in a terminal, 
— rat July. 1, petioles —— ined between the 
nine to twenty-one oblong or ovate-lanceolate, often entire 
leaflets, which are oblique or unequal at the base, smooth and 
shining above. Branches and stalks downy. A, lft. to 7ft. 
North America, 1688. Shrub with running roots. 
R. Coriaria (hide-tanning). fl. whitish-green, in large, loose 
panicles, July and August. J, villous; leaflets eleven to fifteen, 
elliptic, with large, blunt teeth, becoming purplish-red in decay. 
h. feet: to 20ft. Portugal to Tauria, 1629. Shrub or low tree. 
(W. D. B. 135.) 
R. Cotinus (Cotinus).* Smoke Plant. f. pale purplish or flesh- 
colour, in loose panicles; pedicels becoming lengthened and 
hairy after flowering. June and July. /. obovate, undivided. 
h. 6ft. to 8ft. Spain to Caucasus, 1656. Shrub rambling. 
(J. F. A. 210.) 
R. C. pendula (weeping). A form with pendulous branches. 
R. diversiloba (variously-lobed). J. smaller than in R. Tomico- 
dendron; leaflets ovate, very obtuse, obtusely lobed on the 
anterior margins. Branchlets short. k. 15ft. California. Erect 
tree. (B. R. 1845, 38.) 
R. elegans (elegant). A synonym of R. glabra. 
R. glabra (glabrous).* fl., males greenish-yellow, females 
greenish-red, paniculate. June. J. glabrous; leaflets seventeen 
to twenty-one, lanceolate-oblong, serrate, whitish beneath. 
Branches glabrous. h. 5ft. to 18ft. North America, 1726. Shrub 
or low tree. (W. D. B, 15; T. S. M, 572.) Syns. R. caroliniana, 
R. coccinea, R. elegans (W. D. B. 16), R. sanguinea. 
FIG. 373, RHUS GLABRA LACINIATA. 
R. g. laciniata (torn).* Fern-leaved Sumach. A very elegant 
a lacinia * 373. 
variety, having leaves cut in iate manner. See iy 
i863, 7.) i 
RH 
R, javanica (Javan). A synonym of R. semialata Osbeckii. 
R. lucida (clear). A. white; panicles axillary and terminal, 
shorter, or a little, longer, than the leaves. July. l shortly 
petiolate; leaflets sessile, obovate, quite entire, very blunt, 
somewhat — quite smooth, glossy, h. 4ft. to 6ft. Cape 
of Good Hope, 1697. Greenhouse. 
R. sanguinea (bloody). A synonym of R. glabra. = 
R. semialata Osbeckii (half-winged, Osbeck’s).* l large; 
leafiets fifteen to twenty-three, Snai toothed, —— 
beneath. Bark smooth. +. 20ft. Japan, 1867. Greenhouse. 
(R. H. 1867, 111, under name of R. Osbeckii.) 
R. suaveolens (sweet-smelling). A synonym of R. aromatica. 
R. succedanea (substituting).* Red Lac Sumach, fi. greenish- 
yellow. Juneand July. fr, white, the size of a cherry, contain- 
ing a smooth nut. l. smooth, permanent, on petioles ; 
leaflets eleven to fifteen, ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed, shining, 
netted with veins, and glaucous beneath. A. 10ft.to15ft. Japan, - 
1768. Greenhouse evergreen. 
R. Toxicodendron (poison-tree).* Poison Ivy; Poison Oak. 
fi. nish-yellow, in loose, slender. anicles. June. 
t; jeaflets three, ’ rhombic-oyate, f $ 
„= downy beneath, variously notched, sinuated, or cut-lobed? North 
