EAST-FLORIDA 243 



Xanthoxylum Clava Herculis grows here to strong, 

 high trees. Ilex Cassine, Olea americana, Magnolia 

 grandiflora, and other trees seen in Carolina, are more 

 numerous here. Cactus Tuna is everywhere to be 

 found. 



In place of other fences about gardens and fields, 

 the palmetto (Yucca gloriosa) is made use of here; 

 the tops being cut off and set out along little ridges of 

 earth take root easily and rapidly, grow tall and thick, 

 and with their stiff and prickly leaves make an im- 

 penetrable hedge. In addition, their beautiful blooms 

 offer a splendid prospect to the eye, and their sweetish, 

 mucilaginous fruit is said to be a mild purgative. The 

 orchards contain little besides lemon and orange trees. 

 The latter, the sweet as well as the sour, are thought 

 to be especially good, even better than the West In- 

 dian. But the sour are the most raised. The ex- 

 pressed juice is sold at i Spanish dollar the gallon. 

 Of both sorts there are very strong and handsome 

 trees, yielding annually 3-4-500 oranges. I saw no 

 apple or pear trees, and only a few peach and plum 

 trees. 



The Florida star-anis tree (Illicium Uoridanum L.) 

 is found in the neighborhood but is not so plentiful as 

 in West Florida. 



In certain parts of Florida the culture of the 

 Sesamum orientale has been attempted, and the seed 

 found to be so heavy that a bushel, English measure, 

 gave more than 25 pounds of oil, not only pleasant to 

 the taste but valuable because it does not easily grow 

 rancid. 



The few fish which during my short stay at Augus- 

 tin I observed in the market were : mullets, whitings, 



