SUMA Shumac.
Tumtum, . . . ARAB. Sumac, Fa.
Shih-chu-yu, . CHIN. Schmack, . . . GER.
Sumak, . . . DAN. , SIV. SOMBIRCO, . . . . IT. SIR DUT. Sumak, . . . . PERS. Divi-divi, Libi-libi, ENG. Sumagre, . . . PORT.
The sumach trees of Europe are the Rhus coriaria and R. cotinus, that of India is the Cmsalpinia coriaria, that of China is the Rims venenata. The Cmsalpinia coriaria, yielding Divi divi of commerce, was introduced about A .D. 1830 by Dr. %Ili& It is a hardy plant, of easy cultivation ; it requires a little care, attention, and watering during the first year, or till the plant attains the height of two or three feet ; it does not come into full bearing till about the third year, but in favourable localities it attains a height of 10 to 16 feet, and the produce of one full-grown tree is about 70 lbs. of pod, which have been valued at £8 to £12 per ton as a. tanning sub
stance. It is a good hedge plant, and bears pruning. Its pods were used for tanning at Hunsur, but it is questionable if it will ever come into competition with the bark of the Cassia auriculata, a wild shrub abimdant on waste ground in the Peninsula. Divi - divi at Hunsur answered admirably for light skins, such as sheep and goat for fancy leathers, but for strong hides it is not so suitable ; it does not, as the tanners call it, fill the hide, and instead of pliant, thickish leather, gives a thin, hard material. Rhus cotinus, L., and R. coriaria, L., shrubs of South Europe and the Levant, are extensively employed in tanning light - coloured leathers, and also as an orange-coloured dye. Sumach from Sicily has been sold at 12s. to 14s. 6d. the cwt. in London.