SELECT LISTS OB PLAITTS. 393 



in the seed pans a little longer. There are several modes of grafting 

 practised with Ehododendi-ons, but veneer grafting or side gi-afting in 

 August and September under glass are the most certain as weU as the 

 most convenient. (See Chapter XVII.) 



RJius (Sumac, Smoke Tree, Etc.)— A very large and important genus 

 of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Some are extremely 

 poisonous, others yield astringent properties valuable for tanning Tur- 

 key and Morocco leather. One Japanese species is said to yield the 

 famous lacquer, another a valuable wax, and taking it aU together, the 

 genus is a valuable one in the arts, besides those species cultivated for 

 ornamental purposes, like the common Venetian Sumac (jffi. cotinus), and 

 the rather raie but closely allied American Smoke tree (B. cotimddes). 

 Propagated by seeds, layers, cuttings of the roots, and some species by 

 cuttings of the ripened wood, made in autumn before the branches have 

 been severely fi'osted. 



Ribes (Currant, Gooseberry). — Well-known, berry-bearing, deciduous 

 shrubs, mostly native of cold climates, succeeding very poorly or not at 

 aU in wai-m ones. New varieties are raised from seeds, which germinate 

 at a very low temperature, and for this reason tfcey must be stoj'ed in a 

 very cool place, else they wiU sprout in spring before the weather will 

 permit of a continuation of growth. Seeds should be washed from the 

 pulp, then mixed with pure sand and placed in the shade out-of-doors ; 

 on the north side of a building is usuaBy a safe' position to prevent 

 early germination in spring. If only a few plants are to be raised fi-om 

 seeds, they can, of course, be started under glass, but the open gi-ound 

 is preferable, givlDg the young plants shade until they ai-e well estab- 

 lished. AU the species and vaiieties are readily increased by layers and 

 cuttings of the mature one-year-old shoots. The usual practice is to 

 make the cuttings of Cmi-ants early in the faU, and plant immediately, 

 protecting the cuttings with a mulch of coarse hay or raanui-e. They 

 win produce roots before the ground freezes, and the mulch will prevent 

 lifting by frost. Gooseberry cuttings may be made a little later in the 

 f aU, but not planted out until spiing. (See Grafting, Chapter XVII.) 



Robinia (Locust Tree). — ^A genus of few species, the most important 

 of which is the common Locust or False Acacia {JR. Pseudacadd), a large, 

 deciduous forest tree, with deep green pinnate leaves and loose-drooping 

 racemes of white fragi-ant flowers. The timber of this tree, when of slow 

 gi-owth, is one of the most durable known. Formerly, this tree was ex- 

 tensively planted in the Eastern States, and is still to a limited extent ; 

 but of late years the Locust borer {Cyllme pictus), has been so destruc- 

 tive to the trees that very few are now planted. There are two other 

 indigenous species — one a mere shrub with rose-colored flowers — that are 

 cultivated for ornament. Propagated by seeds, sown in the fall or spring, 

 and the ornamental species and varieties by seeds, cuttings of the roots, 

 and by budding and grafting. (See Stocks, Chapter XVIII.) 



Rosa (Rose). — ^A very extensive or limited genus, according to the 



