\Q4t ON THE WAX TREE OP LOUISIANA. 



muriatic acid. But as the wax does not fink in thefe liquids, 



we muff multiply the contacts either by Hieing and fprinkling 



it with the oxigenated muriatic acid, or by inclofing it in this 



divided ftate in calks into which the oxigenated muriatic gas 



mould be palled. 



The preference I (h a ]l propofea third which promifes a fpeedier effect. The 



fionof the^x!" wax * n a ver y divided ftate is to be unratified in a calk, with 



mur. of lime, fuper-oxigenated muriate of lime ; in this manner they are to 



be difpofed in ftrata, and left for fome time in contact without 



moifture. The fait is afterwards to be decompofed with water 



acidulated by the fulphuric acid ; taking care to pour the water 



a little at a time at different intervals, until there lhall be no 



longer any perceptible dilengagement of muriatic gas j at 



which period a large quantity of water is to be added and 



the mixture agitated with a ftaff. The infoluble fulphate of 



lime falls down by repofe, while the bleached wax rifes and 



fwims at the furface. This is to be warned and melted on the 



water bath. 



On the culture I lhall conclude this memoir by offering fome notions refpect- 



of the tree in j n g ^ Q cu ^ ure f fa G myrica penfylvanica. 



Cit. Delhayes to whom I am indebted for the trials I have 

 made has obferved the wax tree for feveral years at Ram- 

 bouillet. The following is what he writes to me on the fubjeft. 



Itis perfectly at „ ^he myr i ca (latifolia), Ayton is here abfolutely in its 

 home in France. / ' ! ." r .. J r " J . 



native country ; it is in the loil belt luited to it, namely in a 



fandy and blackilh turf: we have lixteen very flourifiiing wax 

 trees. Their height is from four to live and fix feet, and one 

 of them a male is feven feet high. The berries are abundant 

 almoft every year, I fay almoft becaufe there are fome years 

 in which they have failed. In general this fruit thrives very 

 well in the part of the Englilh garden afiigned to it. 

 and requires no *< The culture requires no care. Every year numerous 

 ture# fhoots are taken off which rife at the feet of the large wax 



trees. Thefe are planted in other parts of the garden at the 

 diflance of one metre or yard afunder." 



The grain may be fowed in the ground in fpring, and after- 

 wards tranfplanted, but the procefs would be too long. The 

 myrica fucceeds wherever the foil is light and rather moift. 

 How many provinces are there in which this cultivation might 

 become ufeful and give employment to lands at pTefent nearly 

 abandoned* 



4 How 



