54 



CASE No. 163. Woo-PEi-TSZE or Chinese Galls {Rhus 

 30. semialata, Murray). Imported from China and Japan for 

 dyeing purposes. 



No. 164. Sumac or Sumach. The powdered leaves 

 of Rhus Coriaria, L., a hardy shrub of the rocky slopes 

 of Sicily and elsewhere in the Mediterranean region. 

 When the Sumach is cut, it is spread on the field to dry, 

 the leaves are then broken from the stems, packed in 

 bags and conveyed to the mills, and subsequently ground 

 into powder. It is used in dyeing for the production of 

 grey colours, also for tanning the finer kinds of leather. 

 Note the peculiar pruning hook (ronco) with which the 

 twigs are gathered and the flail {hovillo) with which they 

 are thrashed. There is a large annual import of this 

 product, chiefly from Sicily. 



Venetian Sumach or Young Fustic consists of the 

 twigs of Rhus Cotinus, L., a southern European species. 

 It yields a beautiful bright yellow dye, much used in 

 calico printing. Fruits, leaves, and bark of the NORTH 

 American Sumach (Rhus glabra, L.) are here shown. 

 They are astringent and used in America for tanning 

 leather. 



No. 165. Chi an Turpentine, the oleo-resin of 

 Pistacia Terehinthus, L., a bush or small tree ; some- 

 times however, attaining a height of from 20 to 40 feet, 

 common on the islands and shores of the Mediterranean, 

 as well as in Asia Minor. The resinous juice, exclusively 

 obtained from the island of Scio, is yielded after incisions 

 in the bark. Chian turpentine has stimulant and diuretic 

 properties, and was formerly used in medicine for the 

 same purposes as the coniferous turpentines and has also 

 been employed in the treatment of cancer. At the present 

 day it is used for preserving^ wine, especially when it has 

 to be shipped, for flavouring Raki, a cordial largely con- 

 sumed in the Levant, and to a small extent in medicine. 

 In consequence of the small quantity of this turpentine 

 annually collected, it always realises a high price, and is 

 commonly adulterated, chiefly with coniferous turpentines. 

 The wood, fruits, and oil expressed from the kernels at 

 Scio, together with galls produced on the species, are also 

 shown. 



