The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-01-28
Curious Trees.

OocIul tTctS utNC tnOl JlhSci oO Wv VI
namenta trees. But in addition TO these
there is class which may be called dis
tinctiyely curious; and Of these n few
notes may be interesting:
The Cow Tree is native Of VENUE
Ia, South America 1t is often found
growing on the poorest and most rocky
soil. It's leaves are dry and leathery in
appearance, and for several months in the
year not shower falls to moisten its
roots and branches. Yet, by piercing the
bark, it yields liquid resembling milk,
which is sweet aud nourishing. AT sun
rise, this fluid seems TO be especially
abundant, and at this hour the natives
go TO the trees in great numbers to get
their daily supply.
The Sorrowfm Tree is found near
Bombay, India. 1t is so called from its
blooming only at night. While the sun
is shining, not an expanded flower is visi-
bic; vet in half an hour after the sun is
below the horizon, the tree is full Of them.
There is little beauty in them, though
the odor is pleasant. AT sunrise the pc
tails close up or drop TO the ground. This
tree, it would seem, must have some sort
Of relation to the night blooming Ceres.
The Drarf Tree is found upon high
lands near Capo Horn. It's maximum
hight is two and half feet, and tho
spread of its branches about four feet,
and n stiff, thorny mat at that.
The Mammoth Trees of California,
are worthy of note here. They are found
three hundred feet high, and twcnty-nino
feet in diameter, at five feet from the
ground. A hollow section of trunk
was lately exhibited at San Francisco,
which presented a large carpeted room,
with piano and seats for forty persons.
On recent occasion one hundred and for
ty children were admitted without incon
yenienco.
The LVory Nat Tree is found i'll
South America, and belongs to the palm
tribe. The natives use it in building their
huts, and out of its nuts they make but
tons and various trinkets. Of late years
the nuts have found their way 10 other
countries where they are worked up into
all sorts of fancy articles.
The Cannon Ball Tree: What can
be more interesting than this Tree in our
warlike times! IT'S pity it grows only
in the tropics. 1t rises about sixty-five
feet high, has beautiful crimcon flowers,
in clusters, and very fragrant The rc-
semblance Of the fruit to cannon balls has
given it its martial name. When fully
ripe tho balls burst with loud report.
The shells are worked into cups and
great variety of other useful and orna-
mental household utensils.
The Bread Fruit Tree: Here is some
thing useful, as well as curious. Would
that it grew somewhere besides in the
islands Of the Pacific. The fruit attains
the size Of child's head ten years old.
If wanted for food it needs TO be gather
ed little before it is fully ripc, and then
baked, like hoecake, in hot ashes. When
properly cooked, it resembles not little
the taste Of a good wheaton loaf, Nor
is this the only use of the tree. It's TIM
Der is excellent for house-building, for
making canoes and agricultural imple-
ments. The sap is gummy substance,
very useful as pitch for cauiking the
seams of vessels The fiber Of the inner
bark is used by the natives for making
cloth, which in that climate answers
good purpose. 1t is the fayorite tree Of
its native region; ard well il may be-
The Upas Tree: The deadly Upas,"
of which we have all read and heard from
childhood, which was supposed TO diffuse
n poisonous air, fatal to animals or men
who came beneath It's branches, has no
existence, and never had. The only pos
siblc ground for the superstition was this:
On certain island Of the East Indies,
there is valley in which there is con.
slant deposition Of carbonic acid gas.
This gas spreads itself among a few
trees of the neighboihood, and, Of course,
if birds, animals or men inhale much Of
this gas, it will quito surely be fatal to
them. But this is no fault of the trees,
which have been found to possess no poi
sonous quality.
The TGllow Tree is a vorlable fact
1t lives in China, and yields an oily sub
stance resembling lallow, and which an
swcrs well as rs substitute for it. The
tree is Of only medium size, at maturity.
1t would not be hardy in America.
The Vornish Tree is Japanese, though
found, also, sparingly in China. This is
the tree which produces the black Japan
varnish, so useful an article of commerce.
1t resembles in general appearance, tho
white ash tree of this country. 1t does
not furnish its peculiar liquid in large
quantities, until nine or ten years DID,
American Agriculturist.
A Rich ENGrNEER.-Wm. James
Mnlknr a unrr nnninnnt Scotch civil IN.