460 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



surpassed only by the best boxwood. This may give a clue to other 

 substitutes for that scarce commodity, needed so extensively by the 

 wood-engraver. 



Rhodomyrtus macrocarpa, Bentham. 



Mountains of North-Eastern Queensland. A tree attaining a 

 height of 30 feet and perhaps more. The berries, which grow to a 

 length of 1 inch, are of acidulous taste and good to eat [J. Dal- 



lachy]. 



Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Wight. (Myrtus tomentosa, Alton.) 



India and China. This showy shrub ascends to 8,000 feet. The 

 berries are dark -purple, of cherry-size, pulpy and of aromatic sweet- 

 ness. 



Rhus aromatica, Aiton. 



North- America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, northward 

 to Canada. A straggling bush. The aromatic foliage important for 

 medicinal purposes. 



Rhus caustica, Hooker and Arnott. (Lithrcea venenosa, Miers.) 



Chili, where it is called the Litre. A small or middle-sized tree, 

 the very hard wood of which is used for wheel-teeth, axletrees and 

 select furniture. The plant seems neither caustic nor otherwise 

 poisonous [Dr. Philippi]. 



Rhus copallina, Linne. 



Eastern North- America, extending to Canada. A comparatively 

 dwarf species. This can be used for tanning. A resin for varnishes 

 is also obtained from this shrub. 



Rhus coriaria, Dodoens.* 



The Tanner's Sumach. Countries around the Mediterranean Sea, 

 extending to temperate Western Asia. The foliage of this shrub 

 or small tree, simply dried and reduced to powder, forms the 

 sumach of commerce. It is remarkably rich in tannic acid, yielding 

 as much as 30 per cent., and is extensively used for the production 

 of a superior Corduan- or Maroquin-leather and pale-coloured 

 leathers and dress-goods. Sumach allows the leather to carry 

 more grease [Bailment]. Price in Melbourne 15 to 30 per ton. 

 It thrives best in loose calcareous soils, and cannot endure stagnant 

 water. The strongest sumach is produced on dry ground. The 

 cultivation presents no difficulty. With us it has thriven well even 

 on the dry plains of the Wimmera-district. A gathering can be 

 obtained from suckers in the first year. The duration of sumach- 

 fields under manure extends to fifteen years. Sumach can also be 



