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HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



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dies, and also an agreeable - smelling soap. And Tho- 

 rean says that in Beverley's " History of Virginia/' 

 published in 1705, mention is made of the myrtle, and 

 how the early settlers made a hard, brittle wax from 

 the berries. 



" Of this they make candles, which 

 are never greasy to the touch, nor 

 melt with lying in the hottest weath- 

 ; neither does the snufE of them 

 ever offend the smell like that of 

 a tallow candle, but instead of 

 being disagreeable, if an acci- 

 dent puts a candle out, it yields 

 a pleasant fragrancy to all that 

 are in the room, insomuch that 

 nice people often put them out 

 on purpose to have the in- 

 cense of the expir- 

 ing snuff." 



HELONIAS BtTLLATA. 



