304 LUt of the Pia7tts of Chile. 



lately by Sprengel, has no existence, and ought absolutely to be blot- 

 led from botanical catalogues. The branches of this plant are com- 

 monly used to heat lime kilns, and to light fires on holy-days ; the 

 resinous principle which it contains causes rapid combustion. Brush- 

 es are also made of it, which however, do not last long. The B. 

 glutinosa yields, by boiling, a kind of resin, which, it is said, has va- 

 rious applications. The decoction of this plant is used as a refrige- 

 rant in certain urinary affections. 



Barbida. Hedw. Among the mosses which grow in this country 

 there are some which belong to this genus. The most common re- 

 sembles very much the B. unguiculata, Hedw. The B. muralis, 

 Timm. is not rare. All the nwsses are generally known by the name 

 of pnstito. They grow in shady and humid spots in the woods ; at 

 the foot of old trees, near bogs, and on mud walls. They are not 

 applied to any particular use. 



Bai'tramia. Hedw. There are two species : the one resembles 

 the B. fontana, Sw. The other appears new. They are found in 

 the shady woods of the hills, and in the sandy and humid pastures 

 near rivers. 



Berberis Ilicifolia. Forst. and B. tomentosa, Ruiz and Pavon. 

 These two under-shiubs, which are called, indiscriminately, Michay, 

 are very frequent in arid and elevated hills. The last is common in 

 the neighborhood of Leona. It would be well to attempt its cultiva- 

 tion, to form inclosures which would be impassable on account of the 

 strong sharp thorns on its leaves.* The decoction of its bark forms 



* The construction and preservation of the mud walls, vrbich serve for the separ- 

 ation of property, and to prevent the invasion of animals of the herd, cause verj- con- 

 siderable expanse, but are nevertheless of prime necessity. The lon^ rains of win- 

 ter and stron.g winds and earthquakes produce great damage, which it is necessary 

 to repair without loss of time, with sacrifices tliat circumstances render onerous. 

 Besides, the sad aspect of tlie^e vralls, Avhich cioss in every direction a fertile plain, 

 destroys, in a great measure, the beauty of the country, and conceals the beautiful 

 green, enamelled with the most splendid colors of the Iris, with which natuie is 

 every where adorned. The roads, shut in by these rough constructions, are dull, 

 monotonous, tedious, and above all, impassable on account of the waters, which can 

 find no exit. V/ould it not be less expensive and more convenient to replace them 

 by Uvi7ig pali7igs, which being well guarded and separated from tlie public roads 

 by ditches, would form secure and, at the same itine, cheerful barriers.'' Although 

 the country does not want for thorny shrubs, susceptible of this application, yet it 

 would be well to introduce the cultivation of the Cratecgus O.vyacantha, Linn, 

 ivnd its varieties, known in Spanish under the name o{ espino bianco. — 11. 



