ORNAMENTAL TREES, ETC. 391 



CLASS IV. SHRUBS OF LOW GROWTH. 



VARIETIES WHICH SELDOM RUE BTT FROM TWO TO FIV FEET X 

 FOR THE FIRST, OR INKER RANGE. 



107. ftDwARF DOUBLE FLOWERING ALMOJVP. Amygdalus nana. 

 A superb shrub, flowering early in spring, in profuse clusters of 



very double blossoms, like small roses, of a rose or pink color ; one 

 of the most ornamental shrubs of its season. See page 211. 



108. YELLOW DIERVILLA. Diervitta lutea, or Acadian Honey- 

 suckle. 



A low-growing, hardy, ornamental shrub. The wood is perfumed 

 when broken ; the flowers are small, of a yellow color, and slightly 

 fragrant. 



109. CANDLEBERRT MYRTLE. BAYBERRY. Myrica cerifera la- 

 tifolia. 



A low, hardy shrub, rising from three to five feet in height ; a na- 

 tive of the Middle and Northern Atlantic States. The leaves are 

 broad, shining green; when rubbed, they emit a fragrant odor. 

 They remain on the tree till late in winter. The berries, profusely 

 clustered on the limbs, are round, of the size of peppercorns ; each 

 berry contains a small stone, and is covered outside with a waxen 

 substance which resembles a thick azure bloom. The wax is ex- 

 tracted by boiling. The berries, being placed in a boiler, are covered, 

 until the water rises six inches above their surface, and these being 

 continually stirred while boiling, the wax is separated, and this, 

 rising to the surface like oil, is skimmed off" continually. As oft as 

 the berries become exhausted, and will yield no more wax, they are 

 withdrawn, and replaced by fresh quantities, the process of boiling 

 continuing unceasingly, till the stock of berries is exhausted. This 

 oil, being strained through a coarse cloth, and Cooled, is solidified, 

 and being placed on lined cloths, the superfluous water soon dries ; 

 it is then of a dull green color, and semi-transparent. 



Candles made of myrtle wax burn with a peculiarly clear, white 

 flame, producing a beautiful light with but little smoke; and yield, 

 while burning, a balsamic fragrance, and delicious perfume. The 

 roots abound in the Gallic acid, and, when pulverized, they form a 

 snuff of extraordinary medicinal power. 



The Candleberry myrtle will grow and flourish with little care ; a 

 light, sandy, and somewhat moist soil seems most congenial to its 

 growth. 



Hie Myrica Cerifera Angustifolia is another variety, with smaller 

 seeds, a native of Louisiana, and there growing from ten to twelve 

 feet high. Those trees produce seven pounds of seeds each, which 

 yield about one fourth of their weight in wax. This wax is precisely 

 similar in quality to the wax of the northern shrub. The balsamic 

 fragrance yielded by the burning tapers formed of the new wax, is 

 considered by the Louisianians as powerfully restorative to the sick. 

 In that country, and at the suitable season, men go down to the sea- 

 side, or wherever the trees abound, where they encamp with their 

 whole families, and build a hut of palm leaves, and commence the pro- 

 cess of gathering and of boiling, and continue while the berries last 



