CHAP. 12.—THE KERMES BERRY.
The helm oak, however, by its scarlet berry [Note] alone challenges competition with all these manifold productions. This
grain appears at first sight to be a roughness on the surface of
the tree, as it were, a small kind of the aquifolia [Note] variety
of holm oak, known as the cusculium. [Note] To the poor in Spain
it furnishes [Note] the means of paying one half of their tribute.
We have already, when speaking [Note] of the purple of the murex,
mentioned the best methods adopted for using it. It is produced also in Galatia, Africa, Pisidia, and Cilicia: the most
inferior kind is that of Sardinia.
