296 



UNITED STATES 



3. j1. nedicaulis^ sarsafiarilla. 



The roots are substituted for sarsaparilla. A 

 decoction is used in the country, for that eruptive 

 complaint called the shingles. It is also esteemed 

 as a remedy to restore the tone of the stomach. 



4. A. hisfiida. 



The root of this is highly emetic. 



Myrica cerifera, or candle-berry myrtle, grows 

 upon low boggy lands in the southern states, rising 

 with many strong shrubby stalks to the height of six 

 or eight feet. 



The wax is obtained, in South Carolina and Geor- 

 gia, by boiling the berries of the m. cerifera in wa- 

 ter, and skimming it. Mixed with tallow it forms 

 excellent candles. A soap may be also made from 

 it.* 



Cassia chamaecrista^ is cultivated in Maryland, 

 and on the eastern shore of Virginia, for the pur- 

 pose of recovering worn-out lands, and of enriching 

 such as are naturally poor. Sandy lands in particu- 

 lar, are ameliorated by it. 



It bears the absurd and confusing trivial names of 

 eastern-shore bean, golden cassia, peacock flower, 

 accomack or magothay-bay bean. 



Mr. Bordley asserts, that this plant which is not 

 the partridge pea, is so difficult to eradicate, that it 

 becomes an injurious weed in other soils and courses 

 of crops than those in Accomack : the courses there 

 being maize and oats lay, on a sandy loose soil. 



This plant is particularly described, and an ac- 

 count of its culture detailed by Dr. Greenaway. 

 Anier. Phil. Trans, vol. iii. ^ 



* See Domestic Encyclop. vol. iv> for the process. 



