SUMNER. 



623 



Of the American sumachs the largest species is ' dry situations, like 7?. tnxicodendron, as it is much 

 Rhus lyphina, the Staghorn or Virginia Sumach, ! more virulently poisonous tiian the latter, being 

 which attains a height of from 10 to 25 feet, with a dangerous to most persons who touch it, and to 

 woody stem, and irregular or crooked branches. ! some who come near it. For an unknown reason 

 The young shoots are covered with a soft, velvety some persons may handle it with impunity. Its ef- 

 down like that on the new horns of the stag, which feet is to produce small cutaneous pustules, filled 

 they resemble. The leaves are large and slightly with watery matter, and itching and burning se- 

 downy beneath, changing in autumn to a purple or ; verely, the effect lasting for a week or two, though 

 yellowish rjd. The flowers are greenish yellow iu yielding to certain remedies. The use of very hot 

 hue, in close spikes at the end of the branch, sue- water relieves the itching sensation, and it is said 

 ceedod by drupes or berries densely clothed with that carbonate of soda, bound on with a cloth and 

 crimson hairs. There are many varieties of this kept wet, is a sure and rapid cure for the eruption, 

 species, which is found wild almost throughout Of other American species may be named R. aro- 

 North America. On cutting the stein a yellowish matica, the Sweet-scented Sumach, whose leaves 

 resinous juice exudes. The wood and leaves are when crushed yield an agreeable odor. In the west- 

 used for tanning the finer kinds of leather, while ern varieties of this species the odor is strong and 

 the roots are prescribed as a febrifugal medicine. ; heavy. Its leaves are among those smoked by tho 

 The branches, when boiled wi h the berries, yield a Indiana in place of tobacco, under the name of Killi 

 black, ink-like tincture, and the berries may be em- : Kiuick. R. cotlnus, a Mediterranean species used 

 ployed in dyeing red. They are of a pleasantly acid for tanning, is the ornamental Smoke-tree of onr 

 taste, and may be eaten with impunity. They are gardens. In this species the leaves are simple. Of 

 said to contain malic acid in largo proportion, and , other important foreign species may bo mentioned 



are used as a substitute for lemons iu medicine, and 

 in various domestic preparations. 



R. gl'ihnt, the Smooth Sumach, closely resembles 

 the above, and is the most common species. It 

 reaches a height of from '2 to 12 feet. Like R. t<j- 

 phiti'i it bears a dense fluster of greenish-yellow 

 flowers, and of crimson fruit, velvety from its nu- 

 merous hairs, and with pleasantly acid taste, its 



R. succetlanen, from which Japan wax is obtained. 

 This wax exists as a thick coating on the seeds, and 

 is obtained by boiling. It is made into candles 

 which resemble white wax and give a fine, clear light. 

 R. vernidferen, a shrub much like R. venenata iu ap- 

 pearance and in its poisonous properties, yields a 

 milky juice which blackens on exposure, and forms 

 the varnish used in tho well-known Japanese lacq- 



uer ware. What aro known as Chinese galls aro 

 yielded by another species, R. semialala. They re- 



long compound leaves having from 11 to 31 leaflets. 

 But its young branches are smooth instead of downy. 



A third s[>ecies of the same gronp, R. cnpitllina, the [ suit from the deposit of tho eggs of an insect in the 

 Dwarf or Mountain Sumach, is from 1 to 7 feet high, young shoots, and are largely imported into Eng- 

 with downy branches, and its petioles wing-mar- i land for tanning and dyeing purposes. (c. M.) 



gined. It bears from 9 to 21 leaflets, whose dark- j SUMNER, EDWIX VOSE (1797-1863), general, was 

 green hue and smooth, shining surface make this born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 30, 1797. He passed 

 species a very handsome one. It frequents rocky | his youth at Milton, Mass., and received his educa- 

 hills, but may be found in lowlands. The three tion at the academy there. After a brief mercantile 

 species above named, but particularly R.glubra, from experience ho was appointed, in March, 1819, 2d 

 its greater ul mndance, are of considerable commer- j lieutenant of Second Infantry. He served with high 

 cial value, for their use in tanning light-colored leath- credit in the Black Hawk and other border Indian 

 ers, in dyeing, and calico printing. The leaves are wars, being promoted 1st lieutenant in 1823, and 

 gathered somewhat extensively in Virginia and captain, Second Dragoons, March, 1833, in which ca- 

 neighboring States for tanning purposes, they being ' pacity he commanded the school of cavalry practice, 

 dried, beaten, and ground to powder. They contain j then at Carlisle, Pa. Commissioned major in 1846, 



12 to 20 per cent, of tannin. The Sicilian Sumach, 

 R. corifiria, which is largely cultivated in Sicily for 

 the same purpose, is much richer in tannin, contain- 

 ing from 30 to 35 per cent. 



Another gronp of Rhns contains two very com- 

 mon and very poisonous plants, R. toxicodendron and 

 /.'. r.-,)*nntn. Their flowers and fruit are borne in 

 long and slender axillary panicles, and their leaves 

 have fewer leaflets than the species described. R. 

 commonly known as Poison-ivy, is a 



he distinguished himself in the war with Mexico, 

 leading the famotis cavalry chaige at Cerro Gordo, 

 where he was wounded, and brevetted lieutenant- 

 colonel. He gained fresh laurels at Contreras and 

 Churubusco, and at Molino del Rey commanded tho 

 entire cavalry, holding in check 6000 Mexican lan- 

 cers. For this exploit he was brevetted colonel. In 

 1851-53 he was governor of New Mexico, when he 

 was selected to visit Europe to report on improve- 

 ments in cavalry. In 1855 he was promoted colonel 



widely extended plant. It has two forms, an erect I and led a successful expedition against the Chey- 



and a climbing; the latter, which climbs by aid of 

 rootlets over trees and fences, having been described 

 as R. rftJiotim. This species has three leaflets, and 

 yiflds a milky juice which blackens on exposure i 



ennes, whom he defeated at Solomon's Fork of tho 

 Kansas river. While in command of the Depart- 

 ment of the West he rendered faithful service in the 

 troubles in Kansas. In February, 18C1, he had com- 



and stains indelibly. It is dangerous from its wide i mand of Pres. -elect Lincoln's escort from Spring- 

 distribution and its poisonous properties, which field to Washington. In March he was promoted 



brigadier-general of regulars, and sent to super- 

 sede Albert S. Johnson, in command of the Pacific 

 Department, but was recalled next year to lead the 

 First Corps of the Army of the Potomac under Mc- 



At Yorktown he was in command of the left 



produce a highly disagreeable cutaneous eruption, 



attended with violent itching, in those who touch 



the plant. R, venennta, known as Poison or Swamp 



Sumach, Poison-elder, and Poison-dogwood, is a 



low tree of 10 to 20 feet high, with 5 or 6 pairs of Clellan. 



leaflets, greenish-yellow flowers, and greenish-white wing, and from here to Malvern Hill, in spite of hia 



fruit, which hangs in loose clusters from 6 to 8 advanced age, he distinguished himself in almost 



incline long. It yields a milky juice which dries to every engagement. At Fair Oaks his services were 



a bliick varnish, resembling the Japanese lacquer, especially conspicuous, it being due to his soldierly 



Tlio loaves are smooth and shining, and the tree a promptitude in crossing the Chickahomiuy to the 



very handsome one. In the autumn the leaves ' support of the attacked left wing that the battle was 



change to an intense red or purple. This species is ' not a disaster. In the course of the Seven-days-fighfc 



found in swamps and moist, shady situations, from ' he was twice wounded. For his services in the Pe- 



Canada to Louisiana. It fortunately does not affect ! ninsular campaign he was, in July, 1862, brevetted 



