46 



which has all the strength and elasticity of horsehair without its 

 animal odor. It is afterwards hackled like flax, pressed in bales, 

 and sent to New York, the great emporium of the commercial com- 

 modities of this continent. It is exclusively a natural production of 

 the Southern States, and its growth ought to be fostered and its col- 

 lection regulated by law. It is an air plant, draws its nourishment 

 from the atmosphere, and neither exhausts the soil nor injures the 

 trees to which it attaches itself. 



The Indian fig prickly-pear (Opuntia ficus Indica) has been found 

 on the Teche near Franklin, St. Mary parish, but it grows in great 

 abundance in the sandy soil north of Lake Pontchartrain. Near 

 Mandeville and Covington it covers a considerable extent of ground, 

 and reaches the height of from four to five feet. It be>irs a large 

 yellow flower, and produces a pear-shaped reddish fruit, which con- 

 tains a slightly acid but extremely pleasant juice, having the appear- 

 ance of red wine, and stains the fingers with its carmine dye. Were 

 it not for its numerous impalpable stings with which it is armed, and 

 which render its fruit somewhat forbidden fruit, its scarlet red juice 

 might probably be converted into a delicious beverage, equal per- 

 haps to some of those artificial wines manufactured in Cincinnati 

 and elsewhere, and sold in the South as genuine champagne. Nor 

 is it impossible that its coloring principle might be of some value, 

 if means can be found by which it can be fixed. 



The Worm-seed or Jerusalem oak (Chenopodium anthelminticum) 

 grows every where in waste places in Louisiana. It, has been intro- 

 duced from tropical America. It has a strong i ecuUar, offensive 

 and yet somewhat aromatic odor, which it retains when dried. All 

 parts have medicinal properties, but the fruit is considered the most 

 efficacious. It is a favorite vermifuge, and is most conveniently 

 administered in powder mixed with syrup. 



The Golden-flowered Star-grass (Aletris aurea) grows in the pine 

 barrens. The bitter principle of the root of this plant is extracted 

 by alcohol; and having strong tonic properties, it is advantageously 

 tak»n as bitters in febrile debility. 



The Balsam apple (Momordica balsamina) an herbaceous vine 

 cultivated in the gardens, is a native of the E ist Indies. Its fruit, 

 which is of graceful form and of a beautiful orange yellow tint, was 

 formerly highly esteemed as an application to wounds, and is still 

 in use for that purpose among country people. Infusing the fruit, 



