216 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



and is not easily mistaken for the other, and does not grow in the eastern 

 part of this State. 



Mr. Wm. R. Prince. — There is a confusion of names and a good many 

 errors prevalent about this plant. 



I noticed in your proceedings of last month a description of the sumach 

 and the different species of it, and wish to present some information on the 

 subject. The introduction and culture of the vSicilian tanners' sumach of 

 commerce the Bhus Coriaria — was an object of an anxious interest with 

 my father more than fifty years ago. It was in his attempts to import the 

 Rhus Coriaria that the Chinese alianthus was introduced, as it was sent to 

 him by a London nursery as the tanners' sumach of Sicily, After utter 

 failure in obtaining it from any English nursery, my father finally obtained 

 it from Naples, (Sicily) by a ship belonging to Gardner G. Howland of this 

 city. 



My father wrote some articles, urging its culture upon our countrymen, 

 but they did not seem inclined to engage in its growth, and the attempt 

 failed. I, myself, again urged its culture upon our countrymen, by a pam- 

 phltt, in the year 1854; but the people seemed to think that our common 

 Sumach would do as well, and the attempt again failed. There is a very 

 great superiority in the tannin quality of the Sicilian Sumach over any 

 American species. 



tanner's sumach. RHUS CORIARIA. 



The trees that bear this title are the Rhus Coriaria, of the south of Eu- 

 rope, and Rhus Copallinum, of our own country, the latter bearing greater 

 similitude to the European species than to any other of those which are 

 natives. The European species cannot be cultivated with success north of 

 the Potomac. It is therefore to the American moi-e hardy and more vigo- 

 rous species, that we must look for successful cultivation in the Northern, 

 Middle and Western States. It is found from Massachusetts to Carolina, 

 "•rowing vigorously on the banks of ravines, on the uplands adjoining 

 swamps, and sometimes in sandy woods. Considerable quantities are an- 

 nually collected in some parts of our country; but the amount is so limited 

 in comparison with the great demand, that several hundred thousand dol- 

 lars are paid each year for the imported article. "Will not some of our en- 

 terprizing citizens engage in the extensive culture of a shrub so easily 

 frrown on our least valuable soils ? 



The propagation of both the European and American species is by seeds, 

 or by young trees two or three feet in height. The former attains at fall 

 growth a height of four to five feet, and the latter eight and sometimes ten 

 feet. 



The best of all the American species for tanning purposes is the Rhus 

 Copallinuvi. It forms a small tree of about eight feet in height, and is rea- 

 dily distinguished from others by its light gray bark and slender branches. 

 The clusters of seeds are small. The Sumach, so common along road sides 

 and on the edges of swamps is the Rhus Glabra and not Rhus lyphiiia, as 

 Mr. Fuller erroneously told you. It is a shrub and not a tree, and the usual 

 height is four to six feet. It is the most conspicuous on account of its 

 large red clusters of seeds. It cannot be mistaken for any other. This 

 is the species whose leaves have been recommended for tea. 



