or wood mould, and some sand, with any good common soil, 

 to be suitable for them. Both this and the preceding one 

 are evergreens. 



Sumach, or Rhus. Of this tree there are numerous spe- 

 cies, the most of which are natives of this country, and ge- 

 nerally well known. I shall limit my observations to two 

 species, which are interesting exotics. 



Rhus cotinusy or Venetian Sumach. This is also well 

 known by the name of Purple Fringe Tree. It gene- 

 rally forms a large shrub of nine or ten feet, but a tree of it, 

 which had grown for a long course of years in the ancient 

 garden of the author, and which had been planted by his fa- 

 ther, attained to the height of 18 or 20 feet. The leaves are 

 nearly oval, and stand singly upon long petioles : they are of 

 a pleasant green, quite smooth, and add greatly to the beauty 

 of the shrub ; the flowers are produced at the ends of the 

 branches during the month of July, and continue for a long 

 period : they are of most singular formation, being produced 

 in large hair-like bunches, of a fine russet colour, which 

 afterwards change to brown : these are so numerous, as 

 almost to cover the tree, and give it that most singular and 

 unique appearance which renders it so universally admired. 

 The wood is said to dye yellow, and the leaves and young 

 twigs to dye black. It is a tree of the most easy culture, 

 accommodating itself to almost any soil. 



Rhus coriaria, or Tanners' Sumach. This grows to the 

 height of about 10 feet, and the branches are covered with a 

 brownish hairy bark ; the leaves are alternate, of a pinnate 

 form, and generally consist of eight pairs, and a terminate 

 foliole : they are of a light green colour, and hairy on the 

 under surface, with serrated edges ; the flowers, which are 

 of a whitish green, and no way showy, are produced in large 

 bunches at the ends of the branches. It is this shrub which 

 furnishes the celebrated Sicily Sumach, so useful and ne- 

 cessary in tanneries, immense quantities of which are thence 

 exported throughout the world. It has long been a deside- 

 ratum to obtain this shrub, and those imported under this 

 name, from three extensive nurseries in England, proved in 

 every case incorrect : other trees being substituted, and, in 

 two cases, those of distinct genera. Attempts to obtain it 

 from France were also unsuccessful ; and the author then 

 turned his attention to the Island of Sicily itself. The two 

 first parcels which were thence received failed to survive 

 the voyage, but the third ajtempt was eminently successful} 



