37 



The French Canadians use the flowers in salads and pickles. The 

 flower buds and pods would undoubtedly be excellent as pickled 

 preserves. 



The native country of the Peach tree (Amygdalis Persica) is not 

 known. It was introduced into this country by the first European 

 settlers at the close of the sixteenth century. I have seen peach 

 treei grow spontaneously in Louisiana in the midst of the woods, 

 which had probably sprung up from stray kernels dropped by some 

 huntsman. The peach tree is principally valued for its delicious 

 fruit, and as Louisiana has a similar climate as that part of Asia, 

 where it flourishes best, the peach attains its highest perfection in 

 this State, both for size and flavor. Its wood is compact and of a 

 roseate hue, and is susceptible of fine polish. It is little used in the 

 arts. A color may be extracted from it called rose-pink. Its leaves 

 yield, by distillation, a vo'atile oil of a yellow color, containing 

 hydrocyanic acid. Its bark, blossoms and kernels also contain the 

 same poisonous principle. 



The Common Plum tree (Primus Communis) was introduced from 

 Europe at the earliest period of the colonial government. Its fruit 

 is pleasantly acid to the taste, and is sought after as one of the early 

 fruits of the season. The wood is hard, close, compact, beautifully 

 veined, and is susceptible of fine polish. The texture is silky, and 

 when washed with lime water its g ossinessis heightened, which may 

 be preserved by the application of varnish. It is much in demand 

 for the manufacture of musical instruments. 



The AYild Cherry tree (Prunus Virgimana) grows here to the size 

 of a small tree. It is a fine ornamental tree when its spikes of white 

 flowers are fully expanded. Its wood is of a dull light red tint, 

 which deepens with ag<\ It is compact, tine grained, and takes a 

 brilliant polish. When chosen near the ramification of the trunk it 

 rivals mahogany in beauty. It is often employed for making felloes 

 of wheels. The taste of the bark, especially that of the roots, is 

 aromatic and bitter. It is a useful tonic, and possesses in some 

 degree narcotic and antispasmodic properties. Dr. Barton informs 

 n8 that the leaves are poisonous to cattle. The fruit is employed to 

 make a cordial by infusion in brandy, with the addition of sugar. 



The "Wild Orange tree (Prunus Carolinianes) is a beautiful orna- 

 mental tree, and I have on'y met wi h it in this State in a cultivated 

 state, but it grows wild in North Carolina. Its wood is fine grained, 



