53 



in the spring by tapping the tree to the depth of about CAS^ 

 half-an-inch with an auger, and inserting a spout. The 28. 

 juice is boiled down to a syrup, clarified and crystallized. 

 Good Sugar Maples yield each about an average of four 

 pounds of sugar in the season. 



In the small Order Sahiaceae^ note fruits of the Snake 

 Nut {Ophiocaryon paradoxum, Schomb.). A large tree 

 of British Guiana, the embryo of which is coiled up in 

 the form of a snake. 



Cashew-Nut Order {Anacardiaceae). Chiefly large 

 tropical trees, often with a resinous or caustic juice ; 

 several species bear very valuable fruit. They occur both 

 in the Old World and the New ; some extend invo tem- 

 perate countries, a few reaching the south of Europe. 

 The flowers are usually very small. 



No. 161. A very complete and unique series, illustrat- ^^^ -^ 

 ing the preparation of .JAPANESE Lacquer, and the 29. 

 manufacture of lacquer ware. (1) Stems of the LACQUER 

 Tree {Rhus vernicifera, DC.), showing the incisions 

 made for collecting the juice ; (2) Instruments used for 

 making the incisions, paring the bark, &c. ; (3) Bamboo 

 pot for holding the lacquer : (4) Glove used to protect the 

 hand of the collector from the effects of the acrid juice. 

 Note also numerous specimens of lacquer in different 

 stages of preparation, or used for different kinds of work. 

 Also dyes, colouring matters, and other materials, together 

 with brushes, squares and compasses used by the artists 

 in drawing the designs. On the top of the case is a drying 

 press, in which the work is put to dry. Boxes of finished 

 lacquer ware are also shown on the upper shelves of the 

 next case, and in a special case near Case 40, is a fine 

 collection of finished specimens, and some others showing 

 the progress of the work. 



No. 162. Japan Wax. Afforded by the small fruits CASE 

 (specimens of which are exhibited) of Rhus vernicifera^ 30. 

 DC, and R. succedanea, L., employed in candle-making. 



Some of the species of Rhus are very poisonous, notably 

 the Poison Oak (also termed POISON Ivy) of North 

 America {Rhus Toxicodendron^ L.), contact with the 

 leaves of which produces in some constitutions violent 

 inflammation followed by blisters and ulcers. 



