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leaves are fit for use; but not considered properly seasoned till they are 

 some months old. The leaves are used in Paraguay, La Plata, Peru, 

 and Quito at all hours of the day, by putting a handful into a kind 

 of tea-cup called mate, (which has given its name to the herb,) and 

 from the spout of this pot the liquid is imbibed. Some mix sugar 

 with it, and others add a few drops of lemon juice; and by pouring 

 fresh boiling water the infusion may be renewed. Two hundred thousand 

 arrobas, equal to five millions of pounds, are annually obtained from 

 Paraguay; one hundred and ten arrobas of whioh go to Chili, whence 

 Lima and Quito are supplied: the rest is expended in the viceroyalty 

 of Buenos Ayres." — Abridged from "Seminario de Buenos Ayres," page 

 401, vol. iv. Wilcoks, in his '^History of Buenos Ayres," page 494, 

 says, "That there are three kinds of it in its prepared state, though 

 produced from one plant. It is aperient and diuretic. Like opium it 

 produces some singular and contrary efibcts, — it gives sleep to the restless, 

 and spirit to the torpid. Those who have once contracted the habit 

 of taking it, do not find it an easy matter to leave it off, or even to 

 use it in moderation, though, when taken to excess, it brings on similar 

 disorders to those which are produced by the immoderate use of strong 

 liquors." 

 Ilex Perado. — The Perado Holly. This is the Ilex maderensis of Lam. 

 It is a low tree, native of Madeira, and was at one time cultivated 

 in the greenhouse; it is however quite hardy. There is a plant of 

 this species in the nurseries under the name of I. lladeremis atrovlrens. 



" rupicola. — This species is a native of Peru. 



" salicifolia. — Willow- leaved Holly; native of Mauritius, and introduced 

 about 1818. 



" serrata. — Native of Nepal; quite hardy in the south of England. 



" vomitoria. — (This is the /. reUgioaa, Bart. Fl. Virg.; the I. floridana, 

 Lam; the /. ligustrina, Jacq.; the /. Gassine vera, Walt.) The emetic 

 Holly, or South Sea Tea, native of Florida, Carolina, and Virginia, moist 

 shady places, introduced in 1700; leaves, oblong elliptic, obtuse at 

 both ends crenately sawed. Rafinesque says that this plant is con- 

 sidered a holy plant by many of the southern tribes of American 

 Indians, being used during their religious rites and solemn councils, 

 to clear the stomach and the head. Women are forbidden the use 

 of it. For these purposes the leaves and young shoots are collected 

 with care, and, when dried, form an article of trade among the tribes: 

 they often slightly scorch the leaves before using them. They are 

 inodorous, the taste is sub-aromatic and fervid; they are considered 

 useful in stomach fevers, etc., as a mild emetic, but the Indians' hlack 

 drink is a strong decoction of them, and a violent, though harmless 

 vomitive: it is used warm as the Chinese do their daily tea. The 

 Indians, we are told, consider this tree as a panacea; at certain times 



