62       ON  THE  MEDICINAL  PLANTS  OF  CHEROKEE  GEORGIA. 
Maranta  has  never  been  tested  in  this  section  ;  a  few  plants 
obtained  by  the  writer  some  years  ago  died,  and  the  experiment 
has  not  since  been  repeated. 
Mel.  Much  attention  is  given  to  the  production  of  honey  for 
the  home  market,  and  small  quantities  of  wax  are  sent  abroad. 
Wild  bees  are  frequently  found  in  our  forests,  where  they  deposit 
honey  in  the  hollow  trees.  They  are  marked,  and  in  due  season 
the  tree  is  felled,  and  the  mangled  comb  extracted  and  brought  to 
market.  A  more  than  ordinary  courage  is  required  for  success 
in  this  undertaking.  The  honey  is  inferior  in  color  and  flavor 
to  that  of  the  domesticated  bee. 
Mentha  piperita  and  viridis  are  easily  established  in  our  soil, 
and  take  the  ground  completely,  producing  abundant  crops  of 
herb.  This  plant,  in  our  hot  climate,  abounds  I  think  more 
largely  in  the  essential  oil  than  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  where 
I  have  observed  it  in  cultivation.  There  seems  every  reason  to 
believe  that  the  manufacture  of  the  oil  of  peppermint  would  be 
quite  profitable  here  under  judicious  management. 
Monarda  is  abundant  in  old  fields  and  along  the  road  sides. 
No  use  is  made  of  it. 
Amygdalus  communis.  The  almond,  both  sweet  and  bitter, 
have  been  grown  successfully  in  the  middle  portion  of  Georgia. 
I  know  of  no  attempt  having  been  made  here. 
Olea  Earopcea.  Efforts  have  been  made  with  success  to  in- 
troduce the  olive  upon  our  seaboard.  It  has  not  been  attempted 
here. 
Hicinus  communis  is  found  occasionally  along  our  road 
sides.  No  use  is  made  of  it.  It  is  said  to  drive  moles  from  the 
gardens  where  it  is  grown. 
Terebinthina.  During  a  few  years,  the  production  of  turpen- 
tine, rosin,  and  spirits  has  made  some  progress  in  our  State.  In 
my  own  immediate  neighborhood  the  manufacture  is  as  yet  quite 
limited ;  not  more  being  produced  than  is  consumed  in  the 
counties  immediately  around  us.  The  rosin  accumulates  on  hand, 
and  no  arrangements  are  yet  made  for  shipping  it.  Our  dis- 
tance from  the  seaboard  precludes  the  probability  of  shipping  it 
to  advantage.  Some  experiments  have  been  made  in  the  dis- 
tillation of  the  rosin-oil,  and  it  is  probable  it  may  be  advantage- 
ously disposed  of  in  this  way.    The  spirits  is  distilled  from  large 
