64 



Remedy and Means of Control: — Many remedies have been sug- 

 gested to allay this burning and irritation, one of the simplest being the 

 immediate washing of the parts affected with good strong yellow laundry 

 soap. On return from a day's outing where there was danger of meeting 

 with poison-ivy, the liberal use of such a soap might prevent much suffering, 

 a piece might even be carried in the pocket. 



An application of absorbent cotton saturated with a solution of com- 

 mon baking soda is simple and efficacious. In the case of severe poisoning 

 the aid of a physician should be obtained. 



To properly eradicate this pest the underground root stocks must be 

 destroyed as well as the flowering tops. Grubbing out and burning it 

 by some one who is immune to the poison is the surest means. Spraying 

 with hot brine, or caustic soda will kill it. One pound of caustic soda to 

 two gallons of water has been found most effective. 



POISON SUMACH {Rhus Vernix L.) (Toxicodendron Vernix (L.) Kuntze) 



Cashew Family. 



Common Names: — ^The poison sumach is also well known as the 

 swamp-sumac. It is erroneously called poison elder and poison dogwood. 



Description: — The poison sumach is a shrub or small tree from six 

 to twenty feet high with long pinnate leaves bearing seven to thirteen 

 leaflets. The -leaflets are about two to four inches long and from one to 

 one and a half inches wide, green on both sides, with reddish stalks and 

 midribs. The margins are entire. The flowers are small, green, in long, 

 loose, open, slender panicles. The fruit is smooth, round, greenish or dun 

 coloured. The shrub is very attractive in the autumn, when the leaves 

 change to very brilliant shades of scarlet and orange. The flowers are 

 out in June. 



The harmless sumacs may be very readily distinguished by their i^ed 

 fruits. 



Distribution :^It is a native of Canada, and is found on low wet 

 ground and in swamps, in Ontario. 



Poisonous Properties: — Similar to the poison-ivy, but even more 

 dangerous. Fortunately this species is not very common in Canada. 



