THE WALNUT FAMILY. 105 



on his sandy domain, his pigs and his scuppernong vine has not yet occasion 

 to fear that uncompromising competition will cause his time of prosperity to 

 vanish. In the old plantation days (;f the south the pecan was much planted 

 in a formal way. Even now a few lingering ones which once, perhaps, 

 shaded a tine avenue are standing as memorials of their departed com- 

 panions. 



THE BAYBERRY FAMILY. 



MyricacciC. 



A group composed of shrubs or small trees 7i<ith si))iple^ alteniatc aro- 

 matic /eaves and monoecious or dioecious Jtoicers uu/iich groia in ajnents. 

 Perianth : none. 



CANDLE=BERRY. WAX=MYRTLE. {riate XXXVII.) 

 Myriea cerifera. 



Bark: grey, smooth, the young growth marked with many blister-h'ke dots. 

 Leaves ; oblong-oblanceolate'; pointed at the apex and tapering at the base into 

 margined, pubescent petioles; entire, ur showing a few remote teeth ; dark green 

 andlustrous above, slightly pubescent underneath along the ribs; thick; fragrant 

 when crushed, persistent during the greater j^art of the winter. Floivers : dioecious. 

 Staviiiiate anients : sessile ; cylindric ; pistillate ones, shorter and oblong. Drupe : 

 small globose ; bluish-white, its outer wall being covered with a waxy substance. 



In the autunin along the banks of streams, in wet woods, or sandy 

 swamps, or wherever these bushes enliven the landscape they are laden with 

 their waxy fruits. In fact, these curious litilc drupes when unmolested are 

 often persistent on the plants for two or three years. But there is good 

 reason why they should be gathered and therefore the bushes are often 

 seen completely stripped of their produce. l>y the natives they are put into 

 boiling water, when the fragrant, waxy substance which covers them arises 

 to the surface as a scum. It is then skimmed off and made into candles, or 

 soap. For a long time these candles burn while emitting a spicy scent. 

 Again the people value the genus because its roots when well boiled have 

 some efficacy in curing headaches. 



M. piimila, a low, much branched shrub which inhabits the pine barrens 

 of Florida, is also known by its very small leaves which are entire, or irregu- 

 larly toothed and cut. They are as well quite thick and persistent. On the 



