PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE UTILIZATION OF MYRICA-GALE (MYRICACEAE)

The development of M. gale oil as an insect repellent has created a re quirement for cultivation of the plant. Botanical evidence indicates t hat M. gale is likely to thrive on well-aerated acid peatland and coul d become a valuable crop on land of low agricultural value. Plant grow th would be enhanced by the prevention of grazing and could be combine d with softwood forestry since the trees would benefit from soil nitro gen enrichment thanks to the symbiotic association of M. gale and Fran kia. The economics of oil production would be improved if additional c ompounds of value such as pharmacologically active flavonoids could be extracted from the by-products.