EARLY-FLOWERING SHRUBS. 



41 



the leaves ; the sterile ones, erect and oblong, less 

 than an inch long, and the fertile ones in egg-shaped 

 clusters ; the two kinds are mostly on separate plants. 

 The leaves are extremely aromatic when crushed ; 

 they are deep olive-green. The small 

 bony nuts, an eighth of an inch in 

 diameter, at first greenish and finally 

 grayish, are incrusted with wax. It 

 was a common practice some years 

 ago for the country people to 

 gather the berries, boil them, and 

 collect the wax by skimming the 

 water.* With this so-called 

 " bayberry tallow " candles 

 and even soap were manu- 

 factured. The wax myrtle 

 is found from Maine to 

 Florida; it is also on the 

 shores of Lake Erie. 



On the borders of ponds, 

 and perhaps on the roadside 

 adjoining the cold bogs in 

 the North, we will find the 



Bayberry, 

 and leaf of Sweet Gale at A. 



* In Nova Scotia the wax is extensively used instead of tallow, 

 or is mixed with tallow, to make candles. It has also been mixed 

 with beeswax for the same purpose. Candles made of it diffuse a 

 very agreeable perfume, but give a less brilliant light than those 

 made entirely of animal substance. — Oeorge B. Mmeraon. 



