434 BRECX'S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



shrubs, so as to conceal, as much as possible, its crooked, 

 irregular steins and branches. There is no particular 

 beauty in the flowers ; but, in July and August, the heads 

 of berries begin to assume a rich scarlet color, afterwards 

 turning to jDurple, and remain conspicuous and beautiful 

 into winter ; while in autumn the leaves begin early to 

 turn, and become of a red color, with various shades of 

 yellow, orange, and purple. The ends of the branches, 

 from their irregularity, and the abundant down with which 

 they are covered, resemble the young horns of the stag, 

 whence the poj^ular name. 



R. COpallina. — The Dwarf, or Mountain Sumach, — is 

 another beautiful species, " found growing on dry rocks, 

 or sandy hills, about the same height of the last, in favor- 

 able, protected situations, but usually about three to five 

 feet. The varnished polish of the leaves, and the rich 

 purple they assume in autumn, as well as the scarlet of 

 the leafy heads of fruit, inake this species one of the most 

 beautiful of the genus." 



R. glabra* — The Smooth Sumach. — This is a handsome, 

 spreading, leafy bush, usually four to six, rarely ten, feet 

 high. The leaves are compound, smooth, of a rich green. 

 The flowers are disposed in a large green head, of yel- 

 lowish-green color, and agreeable fragrance. The velvety 

 crimson heads of berries on this plant, as on the others, 

 are acid and astringent. The leaves are used in tanning. 



R. Cotinus. — Venetian Sumach or Smoke Tree. — This 

 species is much cultivated as an ornamental shrub. It is 

 a crooked, straggling growing plant, from ten to fifteen 

 fL'ct high. No attempt should be made to make it grow 

 straight by pruning, as it looks the best when left to itself, 

 clothed with branches to the ground. Persons, ignorant 

 of the habits of the shrub, often complain of nurserymen, 

 because they do not give them regular-shaped plants; but 

 this is impossible, and it is not desirable. 



