The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-11-20
The Vines of the Isthmus.

One of the most marked peculiarites of the tro
pcal regions TO the eye of strangers is the number
and luXuriance of the vines which abound in the
forests-vines of all kinds and all sizes climbing
trees and running over the ground covering every
object with dense mass of evergreen foliage. A
correspondent of the New Orleans Dcta writing
from Nicaragua, says the valley of the San Juan
river is so overgrown with these vines as to render
explorations difficult and in some places almost
impossible. The most troublesome impedment to
lOcOmOton is a small vine, oneeighth of an inch in
diameter, which has the cxibility aud tenacity OF
a silken cord, which not only hangs pendent from
the tops of the talest TIMBER hundred feet and
more but crosses from tree to tree, tanges into net
work upon the ground and amongst the shrubbery,
making it necessary for the party who will go into
the wood TO carry long knife or machctte. .-
| There are almost nnumerabe other and larger
varieties of vines, whose singular habits in growth
alone can account for their still more singular ap-
pearance. 1t is not uncommon to observe vine
pendent from tree-top eighty to one hundred and
thirty feet in height hanging ike rope, preserving
its size and regularity, down through an open space
and striking into the earth while it also has roots
adherent to the bark of the tree above, whence il
started and grew downwarls This variety is gen
orally one inch in diameter and has the fexibilitv
and strength of rope that size.
Tropical trees and vegetables are much more So
ciabe in their relations to each other than are the
trees and vegetables Of our temperate cline. Thus
it is often the that two smaller trees standing
closely together unite, the bark intermingling and
the trunks changing to one and thus they present
very singular appearance, with two small trunks
arising symerically from one large trunk and each
at the top with regular head 1t is often the case
that large vines imbcd themselves by their close en-
brace. They clasp the tree tightly that the bark
grows over them and buries them in the green
wood, leaving the trunk in large spiral ridges, as
though it had first grown flat and been then twisted
like I'M augcr.
Another variety of vine shoots mp three or four
icct III straight line, where it sends down again
two lateral branches which strike into the earth
1t here begins to attach itself to the bark-to fat
ten and TO grow largely. 1t rapidly increases in
size as it ascends in straight line-giving off at
periods of eight equilateral branches or arms
which pass round to the opposite side of the tree
where their fmbrated ends lap and fold or splice
into each other precisely as the human hands would
do. The vine becomes united with the tree and
gradually blends until it is wholly lost in the tree
and the tree in it--giving of inongrcl branches
which are neither ITSELF nor yet the tree, but a
wonderful and strange compromise between the
two.
Another vine still, more remarkable than either
of lis companions is perfectly fiat, about six inches
in width and resembling belt leather in appearance
Starting from the earth it directs its course bv
singular sol Of instinct, towards the tacst tree in
the vicinity sometimes at dstaucc oftwo or three
climbs to the top ard then gradually relaxing its
Gbrous grasp below, process Of shrinking com
mences. which lifts it rom the ground and leaves it
hanging at an angle of perhaps iorty-iivc degrees
and us straight and tight the mailistay of ship
At intervals also of six inch es along the vinc the
edges contract giving it an oLne similar to that
of huge double chain cable. Tie appearance OF
this huge cable chain, enclosing A 'l@ top long
distance off, and taut rugged, is very singular to the
eve Of the stranger
Nicaragua is said 10 be emincntly fitted l,Y ma
ture for an agricultural country, the principal OBJ
lection urged being the fact that everything gro US
too fast, an objection which do not think woult
have much weight with our cnterprisng America
farmers who 50 well understand the art of keeping
up with the times The soil is rich and soft The
climate is cool, healthul and agreeable. Mica !
ragua has now become great American highway
and probably ere the lapse Of many years the wood
mans axe will echo through the primeval forest
the hum and roar of Industrious mills will wake
the silent solmdes; churches and schoohouscs will
arise, as if by magic, in every town and hamlet
and evidences of civilization, progress and regener
alton will meet the eye of the traveller upon every
side, where now are visible only the traces of ruin
and decay.