142 



banks of streams. The genus includes both evergreen and deciduous 

 species, natives of both temperate and tropical regions, and are 

 widely distributed, representatives being found in Europe. North and 

 South America, India, China, and South Africa. They have small 

 drupaceous fruits, which, in several species, contain a large proportion 

 of wax that is turned to good account commercially. Several species 

 yield edible fruits that are used more or less in their native regions. 

 Myrica cerifera, a deciduous, shrubby, North American species, is 

 commonly known as the Candleberry, Bay Myrtle, and Wax Myrtle, 

 owing to the large proportion of wax obtained from the fruit. Tin's 

 wax, which is of a greenish colour, is extracted by boiling and used 

 in the manufacture of candles. Myrica wax is harder, heavier, and 

 more brittle than beeswax. Myrica cordifoUa, a South African 

 evergreen shrub, yields a large proportion of wax. Myrica serrata, a, 

 dwarf evergreen shrub from South Africa, is another useful Avax- 

 jdeldmg species, as is also Myrica quercifolia from the same region. 

 Myrica Gale is the Gale or Scotch Myrtle, which is common in 

 marshy land in North Britain. Myrica r libra is a fine ornamental 

 species, indigenous to China and Japan, with edible fruit. It is an 

 evergreen shrub or small tree. Myrica Faya, a small evergreen tree 

 indigenous to the Azore and Canary Islands, as also Madeira, yields 

 fruit that makes a palatable preserve. Myrica sapidn, a handsome 

 evergreen tree indigenous to India and Borneo, where it is found at, 

 an elevation of seven thousand feet, yields a somewhat palatable 

 fruit which is eaten to some extent in its native regions. 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION. 



The Myricas are all ornamental plants, and are worthy of culti- 

 vation on that account irrespective of any value they may have as 

 producers of edible fruits and wax. As the various species belong to 

 ;such widely different regions there need be no difficulty in making a 

 .selection suitable for any part of Australasia. Some species will 

 flourish near to the tropics, others in cool mountain regions, and mam 

 in the medium districts. Some kinds will thrive in poor sandy or 

 peaty land, and others nourish near to the sea coast. Propagation 

 is easily effected by seeds, which should be planted an inch and 

 a-half deep. Plants may be readily obtained from layers put down 

 in the autumn or spring, and cutting's of the last season's wood for 

 deciduous species, and the ripened current year's growth for ever- 

 greens, will strike in sand. 



MYRTLE. 



HISTORY AND USES. 



Though Myrtles are usually regarded as merely ornamental plants, 

 yet several species yield edible fruits that are utilized more or less. 



