462 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Rhus semialata, Murray. 



China and Japan, extending to the Himalayas. Attains a height 

 of 40 feet. This species produces a kind of nutgalls, the tan- 

 principle of which ranges from 69 to 77 per cent. It is apt to 

 spread beyond ready control in rich soil. The stem will finally 

 reach the thickness of a foot or more ; the wood is tough and 

 durable but stringy, prettily marked with dark edging. 



Rims succedanea, Linne. 



The Wax-tree of Japan, extending to China and the Himalayas, 

 there up to 8,000 feet. Valuable for scenic effect through its 

 autumnal tint. The produce of this tree has found its way into the 

 English market. The crushed berries are steamed and pressed, fur- 

 nishing about 15 per cent, of wax, which consists mainly of palmatin 

 and palmitic acid. Rhus silvestris (Siebold and Zuccarini) and R. 

 vernicifera yield there a similar wax. 



Rhus typhina, Linne. 



The Staghorn- Sumach. Eastern North -America, extending to 

 Canada. Hardy in Norway to lat. 61 17'. This species will 

 become a tree of about 30 feet height. Its wood is of orange tinge. 

 Through incisions into the bark a kind of copal is obtained. The 

 leaves may be used like ordinary sumach. This bush can be reared 

 on inferior land. The leaves of American sumachs must be collected 

 arly in the season, if a clear white leather like that from Sicilian 

 sumach is to be obtained. This can be ascertained by the colour of 

 the precipitate effected with gelatine. Some of the American 

 and also other sumachs are important to apiarists. 



Rhus vernicifera, De Candolle. 



Extends from Nepal to Japan. It forms a tree of fair size and 

 yields the Japan-varnish. In India it ascends to 7,000 feet; but 

 Stewart and Brandis are doubtful, whether the Japanese species 

 (R. Vernix L.) is really identical with the Indian. The fruit yields 

 vegetable wax. R. Wallichii (J. Hooker) of the Himalayas is a 

 cognate species. 



Ribes aureum, Pursh. 



From Arkansas, Missouri, Oregon to Canada. Endures the cold 

 of Norway to latitude 70 [Schuebeler]. Will live even on 

 somewhat saline soil [Th. Kessal]. This favorite bush of garden- 

 shrubberies would probably along forest-streams produce its pleasant 

 berries, which turn from yellow to brown or black. Its showy 

 flowers are among the earliest in the spring. Professor Meehan 

 mentions a variety or allied species from Utah, with berries larger 

 than those of the black-currant ; they are quite a good table-fruit, 

 and of all shades from orange to black, and this variety remains 



