SUMACH 115 



and distaffs and in the manufacture of skewers, 

 tooth-picks, shoe-pegs, and knitting-needles. It was 

 also considered to be one of the most valuable 

 timbers for the making of certain parts of musical 

 instruments, while charcoal prepared from the 

 young wood was much in demand by artists. 

 Home-grown timber is remarkably hard, tough, and 

 long of fibre, fine and smooth of grain, and finishes 

 off with a satiny polish under the tools of a carpenter. 

 It is so hard and long-grained that it can be cut as 

 fine as a needle, and will bend almost double without 

 breaking. It is of a uniform yellowish- white colour, 

 with darker longitudinal markings, and takes a high 

 polish. Various American woods, particularly that 

 of the Paper Birch, are now almost exclusively used 

 for the purposes to which the timber of the Spindle 

 Tree was applied. 



Sumach 



(Rhus) 



THE Stag's Horn Sumach (Rhus typhind) is one of 

 the most distinct, beautiful, and useful of London 

 trees. Rarely exceeding 25 feet in height, but wide- 

 spreading in proportion, the large, handsome, dark- 

 green, pinnate leaves, which somewhat resemble those 

 of the Ailanthus, and dense spikes of rich scarlet or 

 crimson velvety fruits are very effective. Although 

 by no means pretty, the dense clusters of greenish- 

 yellow flowers are sure to attract attention. The 

 popular name is no doubt owing to the fact of the 

 young shoots being densely clothed with a velvety 

 pubescence, in texture and general appearance like 



