Cerifera by W. Green. 233 
they have stood thus a few minutes, they pour off the water, 
which carries the finest wax with it. This wax when cold is 
of a pale yellow colour, aod may be bleached iu six or seven 
days. Having separated the best wax, they pour the water 
again upon the stalks and graias, and boil all together till they 
think they have separated all the wax. Both kinds are ex- 
ported to our sugar islands. where the first issold for 100 sols 
the pound, and the second for 40. 
This wax is so brittle and dry that if it falls it breaks into 
several pieces ; ou this account however it lasts longer than 
that of France, and is preferred to it in our sugar islands, 
where the latter is softened by the great heats, and consumes 
like tallow. I would advise those who prepare this wax to 
separate the grain from the short stalk before they boil it, as 
the stalk is greener than the grain, and seems to part easily 
with its colour. The water which serves to melt and sepa- 
rate the wax is far from being useless. The fruit communi- 
cates to it such an astringent virtne, as to harden the tallow 
that is melted in it to such a degree, that the candles made of 
that tallow are as firm as the wax candles of France. This 
astringent quality likewise renders it ah admirable specific 
againsta dysentery or looseness. From what I have said of 
the myrtle wax tree, it may well be believed that the French 
of Louisiana cultivate it carefully, and make plantations 
of it.” 
Much valuable information respecting this shrnb is con- 
tained in the work of Duhamel on trees and shrubs col- 
tivated in France, without which this compilation would 
be incomplete. Itis treated of in the second volume of that 
excellent work (Edit. Paris 1804,) page 189, 
The article is as follows. 
* MYRICA. 
MYRICA,. Linn. Classe XXL. Dioécie. Order V. Pent. 
andrie, 
Do 2 MYRICA. 
