248 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



height of two or .three feet, and which M. Sulzer 

 called the wax-tree. Every person visited this 

 avenue in preference to the rest, on account of the 

 delicious perfume emitted by the leaves.'' After 

 describing the process for extracting the wax, he 

 adds, " One taper of this wax perfumed the three 

 chambers which composed M. Sulzer's private apart- 

 ments, not only during- the time it was lighted, but 

 even for the rest of the evening." On this M. Cadet 

 sensibly remarks, that " if it has been found possible 

 to naturalize the myrica cerifera in the north, why 

 should we neglect a vegetable production so valuable 

 which would certainly thrive in our southern depart- 

 ments, and which requires less care than the tendance 

 on bee-hives. The successful trials which have been 

 made must excite the zeal of our agriculturists." 



The heirs of the Prussian academician have sold 

 the skilfully raised garden of their ancestor, but the 

 wax-tree still remained in 1804 : it had been planted 

 in 1770. 



The French government has encouraged the 

 growth of this plant with a view to render its pro- 

 duce a lucrative article of trade. Plantations have 

 been formed of it, and the nurseries at Orleans and 

 Rambouillet contain more than four hundred shrubs. 



This tree can be propagated in England from 

 American seeds, by sowing them in boxes and 

 protecting the young plants in a sheltered situation 

 from the vicissitudes of our winter for two years, 

 after which time they may with safety be trans- 

 planted into the nursery*. 



Another wax- tree or shrub, called by Thunberg 

 Myrica cordifolia flourishes in South Africa, and is 

 subjected to precisely the same process as the 

 American plant. The berries, which are covered with 



* Philo, Mag. vol. xiv. ; Nichol, Jour, vol. iv. 



