Commercial Gardening 



The South European R. Cotinus, the Smoke Tree, Wig Tree, or Venetian 

 Sumach, is somewhat similar, but is much more common. It has roundish 

 leaves, and is remarkable for the cloudy masses of feathery flower stalks 

 in autumn. There is a drooping variety, pendula, and a deep- purple - 

 coloured one, atropurpurea. R. glabra has long pinnate leaves, which 

 become red or scarlet in autumn. The variety laciniata has deeply cut 

 leaflets. R. Osbecki, also with pinnate leaves, has the midrib winged on 

 each side. The North American Stag's-horn Sumach (R. typhina) grows 



up to 30 ft. high, and has hairy pinnate leaves, 

 the rachis and main veins of the leaflets being 

 covered with velvety-brown hairs. There are 

 other species, like Michauxi, succedanea (rather 

 tender), and vernicifera, the Japanese Lacquer 

 or Varnish Tree; and to them must be added 

 the poisonous North American species (R. Toxi- 

 codendron and R. venenata), the foliage of 

 which is ornamental but dangerous. 



Ribes (CURRANT). The best-known flower- 

 ing kinds are aureum, 38 ft. high, golden 

 yellow; sanguineum, the well-known North 

 American "Flowering Currant", of which there 

 are several varieties, like albidum, white; atro- 

 rubens or splendens, deep crimson; atrosan- 

 guineum, deep blood red; flore pleno, double 

 crimson. R. speciosum (fig. 434), the Fuchsia- 

 flowered Currant, is a prickly shrub with deep- 

 crimson flowers. R. Gordonianum is a hybrid 

 between aureum and sanguineum. All kinds 

 flourish in good garden soil, and may be raised 

 from cuttings or seeds. 

 Robinia. Quick - growing Acacia -like trees, with graceful pinnate 

 leaves and clusters of pea-like flowers. R. hispida, the Rose Acacia, 

 grows up to 15 ft. high, and has the young branches covered with 

 bristly hairs. The flowers are rosy pink. R. neo-mexicana is not yet well 

 known. It has the young leaflets covered with brownish hairs, and bears 

 deep-rosy flowers. R. Pseud-acacia, the False Acacia, is the best-known 

 species. It grows up to 60 ft. high, and has graceful foliage and white 

 flowers. There are several varieties, including Bessoniana, largely grown 

 as a mop-headed tree; Decaisneana, bright rose-pink flowers; inermis, 

 without thorns. Pyramidalis, macrophylla, angustifolia, and many other 

 names are given to express certain peculiarities. R. viscosa, 20-40 ft. 

 high, has clammy young shoots and rose-coloured flowers. The kinds 

 mentioned are natives of North America. They flourish in ordinary 

 garden soil, and are easily raised from seeds. Special varieties, however, 

 are grafted on stocks of the common kind. 



Rose. Besides the garden varieties of Roses there are now many 



Fig. 434. Ribes speciosum 



