506 
form, generally entire, but sometimes somewhat toothed, and covered underneath with a whitish 
down : they are joined to long slender footstalks, and affixed to the branches in somewhat of a ver¬ 
ticil late order, presenting a beautiful varied foliage. The berries are near the size and shape of 
small olives, and are preserved as that fruit is by the French inhabitants upon the Missisippi, where 
it greatly abounds, and is called the Olive-tree. The timber is white and soft when unseasoned, but 
light and compact when dry, wffiich renders it very proper for making trays, bowls, &c.* 
It was introduced here in 1735, by Peter Collinson, Esq.j- 
Mr. Humphrey Marshall, in his American Grove, quoted above, adds a third sort, from Bertram’s 
catalogue, which he calls Nyssa Ogeche, or Ogeche Lime-tree. He describes it as a tree of great 
singularity and beauty, growing naturally in water, in the southern states, and rising to the height 
of about thirty feet. The leaves are oblong, of a deep shining green on their upper sides, and lightly 
hoary underneath. The dowers are male and female upon different trees, and are produced upon 
divided, or many-flowered footstalks. The fruit is nearly oval, of a deep red colour, the size of a 
Damascene Plum, and of an agreeable acid taste, from which it is called the Lime-tree. 
Mr. Bartram informs us that he saw large tall trees of this sort on the banks of the Alatamaha 
river, growing in the water, near the shore. He calls it Nyssa coccinea; and observes that there is 
no tree which exhibits a more desirable appearance than this, in the autumn, when the fruit is ripe, 
and the tree divested of its leaves; for then they look as red as scarlet, with their fruit, which is of 
that colour also. It is the shape of the Olive, but larger, and contains an agreeable acid juice. The 
leaves are oblong lanceolate and entire, somewhat hoary underneath; their upper surface of a full 
green and shining; the petioles short. The peduncles are many-flowered. The most northern settle¬ 
ment of this tree yet known, is on Great Ogeche, where it is called Ogeche Lime, from the acid 
fruit being about the size of Limes, and being sometimes used in their stead. J 
CULTURE. 
These trees may be propagated by seeds, procured from places where they grow naturally, and 
put into the ground as soon as they arrive, for they always lie a year before they come up. Sow 
them in pots filled with light loamy earth, placing them where they may have only the morning sun; 
during the first summer the pots must be kept clean from weeds, and in dry weather well watered. 
In autumn plunge the pots into the ground, and if the winter should prove severe, cover them with 
old tan, peas-haulm, or other light covering. The following spring plunge them into a moderate 
hot-bed, hooped over and covered with mats; observing constantly to keep the earth moist. This 
will bring up the plants by the beginning of May. They must be gradually hardened to bear the 
open air: during the following summer plunge the pots again into an east border, and well water 
them in dry weather. In autumn remove them into a frame, where they may be screened from the 
frost; but in mild weather exposed to the open air. The spring following, before the plants beoin 
to shoot, part them carefully, and plant each in a small pot filled with loamy earth, and if they are 
plunged into a moderate hot-bed, it will forward their putting out new roots: then they may be 
plunged in an east border, and in winter sheltered again under a frame. The spring following, 
such plants as have made the greatest progress, may be planted in a loamy soil, in a sheltered 
situation, where they will endure the cold of this climate, but unless the ground is moist they make 
very little progress. 
* Marshall. 
f Hort. Kew. 
J Travels, p. 17. 
