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 addition of water, hops and yeast. Persimmon beer is an extremely 



pleasant drink, and it is rather strange that in the Southern States, 

 where this fruit is so abundant, it is not made use of for this pur- 

 pose in a climate where non-intoxicating refrigerant drinks are so 

 desirable. A spirituous liquor may be obtained from the fermented 

 fruit by distillation, which, it is said, improves with age. 



The pecan nut tree (carga olwaeforms) is a species of hickory, 

 and grows in Southern Louisiana, attaining a height of from sixty 

 to seventy feet. The nuts of this species are enclosed in a thin, 

 woody husk, and are smooth and of a brown color, shaped some- 

 what like an olive. The kernel is very sweet and superior in flavor 

 to that of the shellbark and the other hickory species. The timber 

 is coarse-grained, of great strength, very tough and heavy, but is 

 liable to attacks of insects, and is not suitable for building purposes. 



The wax myrtle (myrica cerifera) is an indigenous shrub, and 

 grows most abundantly in the pine flats of Calcasieu and elsewhere 

 in sandy soil. The leaves when bruised are very fragrant. The 

 berries are coated with wax, which is collected by boiling them in 

 water, when the wax melts and rises to the surface. It is often used 

 under the name of bay berry tallow, for the manufacture of can- 

 dles, and the making of soap. It is also employed for stiffening 

 the ends of circular lamp wicks. The powdered bark has a pecu- 

 liar aromatic odor, and astringent properties. 



The sweet bay (magnolia glauca) is a small tree and grows in 

 great abundance in North Louisiana, not merely in swampy soil, but 

 near the sand hills. It bears large, cream-colored, odorous flowers, 

 and has thick shining leaves. It is a beautiful ornamental tree, and 

 should be found in the South in every garden where the magnolia 

 grandiflora flourishes. The wood is sometimes used for making 

 joiners' tools. The bark, which is aromatic and pungent, is some- 

 times employed by country people in intermittent fever. A tincture 

 is also made of it which has been administered in chronic rheuma- 

 tism. 



The cape jasmine (gardenia granciflora) is one of the finest ever- 

 green shrubs of the gardens. It is cultivated on account of the 

 fragrance and beauty of its double white flowers. It is indigenous 

 at the Cape of Good Hope. 



The tree of heaven (ailanthus glandulosa) is a large tree of very 



