294 



UNITED STATES. 



mate, or turns it to an agreeable and tonic article of 

 aliment. 



The common method of preserving the ilex for 

 use, is said to be this : At a convenient time in Au- 

 tumn, the extremities of the branches, consisting of 

 the twigs and leaves, are plucked off ; they are then 

 cut with a hatchet to pieces, small enough to put 

 into a tea-pot. From this manner of treating it, 

 the youpon consists of leaves and sticks mingled to- 

 gether ; then a quantity of it is thrown into a barrel 

 or hogshead, and sweated and browned by putting . 

 hot stones into the midst of it. After undergoing 

 this operation, it is spread and dried for use in the 

 shade. 



The taste of the drink made from it is not very 

 different from that of bohea tea. There is nothing 

 unpleasant and nauseous in it, and, by a little use, 

 persons grow extravagantly fond of it. The dry 

 material is commonly sold by measure, and the price 

 in Carolina is about a dollar the bushel. There can 

 be no doubt, if the leaves of this wholesome plant 

 were picked at the most proper time, separated 

 from the sticks, and cured without being burned or 

 smoked, that their flavour would be greatly im- 

 proved, and that they might be brought more ex- 

 tensively into use, at least among the citizens of the 

 United States if not among foreigners. 



The barks of the conms sericea^ and of the red 

 ivillow^ called also rose willow^ have been found but 

 little inferior to the common Peruvian bark, in in- 

 termittent fevers. These species grow in wet places, 

 on the sides of rivers and creeks, Sec. and flowers 

 in August and September. 



