RHU 
RIB 
while in others the male and female blos¬ 
soms are borne on different plants. The 
most remarkable species is the Rhus toxi¬ 
codendron, or Poison Oak, a deciduous 
creeping plant, with ligneous stems, and 
rather large, entire leaves. It possesses 
a virulent poison, affecting some persons 
more than others, and in various ways. 
Instances are recorded of the juice com¬ 
pletely excoriating the hands of the per¬ 
son touching the plant. Ivalm relates 
a singular case—that of two sisters, one 
of whom felt no inconvenience from ma¬ 
nipulating the shrub, whilst the other was 
affected by its venom, when even a yard off. 
There are three varieties of it, all natives 
of North America, but growing freely with 
us in any common soil, but should always 
be planted in an out of-the-way place, lest 
persons, unconscious of its properties, re¬ 
ceive injury by handling it. 
R. vernix is another poisonous species, 
assuming the form of a low tree, every 
part of which is in a high degree ve¬ 
nomous, and the more dangerous because 
communicated even by touching or smell¬ 
ing. The effects of this poison are ex¬ 
hibited in strongly inflamed pustules, 
which rise upon the affected parts, and 
continue for two or three days, when 
they burst in the manner of ulcers. The 
inflammation then subsides, and they 
speedily heal. Like the other species, 
the virulence of this is of variable degree 
upon different persons, and on some it 
has no effect. This species yields the 
true Japan varnish, which is obtained by 
making incisions in the tree, from whence 
oozes a liquid, at first colourless, but 
becoming thick and dark by exposure : it 
is probably the most transparent varnish 
known. R. pumila is another dangerous 
species, and, with the preceding two, 
should not be admitted to parts of the 
garden within reach of visitors or chil¬ 
dren. R, coriaria and cotinus are culti¬ 
vated in some places for tanning leather, 
and the berries of several kinds afford an 
oil, which thickens by exposure, so as to 
be substituted for tallow. In our cli¬ 
mate the North American and European 
species grow with freedom in light and 
rather dry soil, and are increased by 
layers, suckers, or seeds. 
RIBES, Currant (Linn.) Nat. Ord. 
Grossulacea. A considerable number of 
species belonging to this genus are ad¬ 
mitted in ornamental plantations; and 
those which are decidedly inferior in point 
of beauty are so remarkably docile in 
habit, as to suit themselves to any situa¬ 
tion, and are therefore valuable for filling 
spaces beneath large trees, where little 
else will grow. A considerable variety 
is also observable among them, some par¬ 
taking largely of the character of the 
common currant, and others having the 
leaves like those of the gooseberry. Per¬ 
haps the most ornamental of the tribe are 
albidum, atrosanguineum , aureum, sangui¬ 
neum , sang, plena, and speciosurn. Albidum 
and the double variety of the scarlet cur¬ 
rant are comparatively new, and both 
very beautiful. Either and all of those 
named deserve to be planted in the fronts 
of shrubberies, and are very effective in 
spring. The beauty of sanguineum as a 
spring-flowering shrub has led to its uni¬ 
versal adoption, and we now find it in 
gardens of ail sizes. The remaining por¬ 
tion of the genus, not cultivated as fruit 
trees, may be regarded as best suited for 
the wilderness quarters of the establish¬ 
ment, thriving in any soil, under trees or 
in any other position. The better kinds 
should be grown in moderately rich soil, 
and, with a little annual attention to 
pruning out superfluous shoots, will 
render their places gay through March 
and April. The whole are readily pro¬ 
pagated either by suckers or cuttings, 
taken off in autumn, cut into lengths of 
five or six joints, and planted in a "border 
of light earth: they make specimens fit 
for removal in two years. Sanguineum 
appears inclined to vary a little in the 
depth of its colour when originated from 
seed, and the double variety was thus ob¬ 
tained, in an accidental manner, a few 
years back, among a number of seedlings, 
in Scotland. The berries of all the orna¬ 
mental kinds have an austere flavour, 
something like that of the black currant, 
but with more acid. The trailing species, 
procumbens and reclinatum, have a pleasing 
appearance grown upon rockwork, where 
their scrambling habits impart a naturally 
wild aspect to the work. 
