BAYBERRY FAMILY 



three to four ; anthers divided. Pistillate catkins small, erect ; 

 scales oval, pointed ; ovary bearing two awl-shaped stigmas. 



Fruit. — Dry, waxy berries or drupes, one-eighth of an inch in 

 diameter, borne in clusters of four to nine, on short stalks. At 

 first green, then blackish, finally pale gray, almost white, con- 

 sisting of a stone coated with dry wax which has a slightly aro- 

 matic taste. They persist for two or three years. 



At the mouths of their rivers, and all along upon the sea, and near 

 many of their creeks and swamps, the myrtle grows, bearing a berry of 

 which they make a hard, brittle wax of a curious green color, which by re- 

 fining becomes almost transparent. Of this they make candles, which are 

 never greasy to the touch and do not melt with lying in the hottest weather ; 

 neither does the snuff of these ever offend the sense like that of a tallow 

 candle, but instead of being disagreeable if an accident puts the candle out, 

 it yields a pleasant fragrance to all who are in the room, insomuch that nice 

 people often put them out on purpose to have the incense of the expiring 

 snuff. 



— Robert Beverly in " History of Virginia." 



This little shrub when planted along the shore withstands the ocean 

 winds and storms perhaps better than any other plant known in cultivation, 

 and can be made to do good service in establishing plantations by the sea 

 side. It is now coming largely into use for that purpose, as it affords 

 protection to more attractive specimens which may be planted to leeward. 

 Beginning with a hedge of these Myricas, plantations may often be estab- 

 lished where without something of this nature the task would be hopeless. 

 Almost any bleak and barren exposure can be covered in this way and be- 

 come comparatively beautiful. 



— Lucius D. Davis in "Ornamental Shrubs." 



The fruit, leaves, and recent shoots of the Bayberry 

 are fragrant with a balsamic odor which comes from 

 the minute, transparent, resinous dots with which the 

 recent shoots and under surface of the leaves are pro- 

 fusely covered, 



Bayberry wax is obtained by boiling- the berries in 

 waten The wax dissolves, rises to the surface and 

 hardens on cooling:; it is estimated that about one- 

 third of the weight of the berries consists of wax. In 



442 



