STANDLEY — TREES AND SHRUBS OF MEXICO. 641 



An interesting account is given by Urbina' of axi, axin, or aje, an oily 

 yellowish substance which is produced by a scale insect of the same name upon 

 the branches of Jatropha curcas, Spondias, and other trees. Urbina quotes from 

 Llave, who says : 



" The Coccus axin was brought from Tlacotalpan in the State of Veracruz, 

 and Dr. Schiede, a German physician, has told me that he has seen it also 

 at Papantla. This animal lives on the bark of the plant called in the tierra 

 caliente Pinon (Jatropha curcas) and on that called Jobo (Spondias momhin). 



"We know that they cultivate these insects in Tlacotalpan, whence they 

 have sent information regarding the conservation, propagation, and extraction 

 of the Axi. The first is practiced by placing the insects, when tliey have 

 reached their full development (in October or November), within corn husks 

 filled with corn silk, wliich latter alone should come in contact with the in- 

 sects. These bundles are stored in a place which is dry and free from ants 

 or other insects which might injure them ; and in tlie month of May or June, 

 when the rains begin, they open the bundles at one end, and find within a 

 white envelope like spider web; and then they bind the bundles to the trees 

 destined for propagation, and in a short time the trees are covered with the 

 new insects. The trees used are known by the vernacular names of Joho and 

 Pindn; and as soon as the insects find a place on the bark they remain fixed 

 there until they are scraped oif in order that the Axi may be extracted from 

 them. This operation is practiced by separating the insects first from the 

 dust which covers them; next they are put to boil in ordinary water until 

 they disintegrate and the wax rises to the surface, whereupon they are strained 

 in a piece of cloth in order to extract all the wax possible. This is placed 

 in jars and left to stand 20 hours or more, when it is found to be slightly 

 coagulated; then it is stirred until it forms small balls, which are washed 

 and put over a slow fire to remove the moisture; afterward the wax is 

 strained, and when cold it is in form fit for use. 



"Among other uses, we know that the natives of Tlacotalpan employ this 

 wax, melted, for varnishing pieces of crockery ; and if a certain degree of heat 

 is applied, there is obtained a sort of jelly, which, if rubbed over paintings, 

 gives a very brilliant varnish. 



"The culture of the Axin is a fact which confirms the favorable opinion 

 which must be held of the ancient inhabitants of our country, for the domes- 

 tication of plants and animals is always a proof of civilization." 



Urbina quotes also from Herrera, who says: "The Aje has a consistency 

 like butter; it is yellow, and has a peculiar odor similar to that of rancid 

 butter. * * * The Indians used it for erysipelas and as a resolutive and 

 vuhierary; they employed it also for the cure of hernia, mixing it with hule 

 [crude rubber], turpentine, and array^n ; it is used for various uterine af- 

 fections. In the arts it is used as an excellent varnish for wood and metals, 

 and it is employed by the natives to varnish jicaras" 



"Axin " is produced in many parts of Mexico. It is well known in Yucatdn, 

 where the Maya name is " ni-in." The varnish is said to be very durable, 

 and is employed, among various uses, for varnishing guitars. Donde states 

 (according to Urbina, loc. cit.) : "It is probable that the ancient inhabitants 

 of the country (Yucatan) employed this oil in painting their buildings, and 

 for this reason there are still seen, after three centuries, their decora- 

 tions, whose good state of preservation aroused the admiration of Mr. Stephens, 

 when, in 1842, he visited our ruins." 



For an illustration of Jatropha curcas see Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 8: pi. 42. 



^ Naturaleza 7 : 363-365. 1902. 

 7808—23 9 



