The weekly union record., 1864-03-12
The UNION RECORD.
THE FOREST.

Hudl, llhe. lldl cualNdttu al the seutH
but q perennial plant. attainiug, it is
said by the natives, the age Of nearly
a century III some eases. 1t may be
propagated either from seeds or cuttings;
the former, however, it does not pro-
duce in much perfection until seven
years old. But about the third year
it begins to raise crop of balls with
out seeds, which grow at its extremity
after the plant has reached maturity.
1t will thus be seen that the ginning
plocss is thus effectually dispensed
with. The size of the tree is found to
average that of the peach in this
country, the bushy portion forming a
beautiful pyramid resting on a stem
which Is sometimes six Or eight feet high,
and as many inches in diameter. The
crop of cotton is estimated at one hun
dred pounds to each tree. The balls
are usually found twice the size of those
borne by the herbaceous plant, with
frmer fiber, and longer staple, as it
approaches the colder regions. This
tree was discovered by Mr.. R. C.
Kendall, while an employe in the Pat
ent Office. While exploring the country
in the region of the Andes, and not far
from the fortieth parallel of latitude,
he came upon a magnificent cotton tree,
differing in appearance from any plant
Of the kind that had ever before came
under his notice. 1t was found in the
month of May, when the ground was
covered with several inches Of snow.
The elevation of the locality was such
that snow usually lay on the ground
for three months in the year. At that
time the hee had shed its foliage, but
the cotton pods remained, having fully
burst, and covering the tree with rich
growth of the glossy fiber. In its gen
eral qualities the fiber of this plant has
been pronounced by cotton brokers
equal to the best Sea Island variety.
The TEA TREE OR TEA SHRUB
The ordinary hight of the cultivated
shrub is from three to six feet. though
the wild plant attains a far greater
size. The flowers, which open early
in the spring (appearing upon the plant
about a mCnth) are smaller in size and
much less elegant that those which rem
der some species of the Cameha so at
tractiye. They are Of pure white
color, and fill the air with a delightful
perfume, they proceed from the axils Of
the branches, and stand on short foot
stalks, at the most two or three together,
but usually solitary. There are FIVE
pr six intricate sepals or leaves sup
porting the blossom, which fall off after
the flower has expanded, and leave from
six to nine petals surrounding a great
number of yellow stamens, that are
Joined together in such manner at
heir bases as to form sort Of floral
covonal. The seeds are enclosed in a
imooth hard capsule, of a hattish tri-
angular shape, which is interiorly di-
ided into two, three, and even five cells,
.ach containing firm, white, and some
What oily nut, from the size of a pea to
hat of hazel nut, of nauseous and
litter taste. They ripen in some local
ties as early as October, in others not
lntll January. The stem is generally
'ushy, with numerous branches bearing
very dense foliage, and in its general
appearance not unlike the myrtle,
hough not SO symmetrical as that
liant. The wood is light colored, close
grained, of great comparative density,
nd when freshly cut or peeled, gives
# strong smell, resembling that Of
he black currant bush. The leaves
re alternate, on short, thick channeled
oot-stalks, coriaceous or leathery, but
mooth and shining, Of dark green
olor, and a longish elliptic form, with
blunt, notched point, and serrated
Ncept at the base. 1t is needless to
lention, that these leaves are the valu-
Bile part of the plant They are how
yer, a good deal affected by the site
which the plant is grown, whether
nder the thick unbrage of large trees
in open spot exposed to the influence
f the suns rays, as well as by the
ature of the soil in which the plant is
ound.
The tea, in its Wild state, can hardly
e called 4 plant, but tree, with
unk eight to ten inches in diameter,
nd reaching, III many instances, to the /
eight of thirty or forty feet, rearing
5 long stem among other trees of the
'rest, all Of which seem to be striving
hich shall first raise its head above /
le dense jungle Of creepers and canes,
ld pierce into the light above, nor can
us forest be entered at all, without
lttlng out path with billhooks.
Although many varieties Of tea are
lOwn III commerce, they are not the /
roducts Of as many different spices of
le tea plant, Burnet in . Outlines Of
otany," says, "Of the genus thea
here are but three or four known