Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-28
From the Boys and Girls Monthly.
VEGETABLE WONDERS.

There are two great books we should all ell9ea-
vor to study the first and greatest Is the book OF
Revelation the teachings of which should be
stored away in our very inmost hearts the secono,
the book Of Nature, is ever spread out before us,
so that whichever way we turn our eyes It's beau
tics and wonders meet our view Let us now
however, take peep at few botanical wonders,
mostly of foreign countries. Botany is the science
which treats Of plants, and is one OF the three
great divisions of Natural History.
A gentleman who spent many years In Callf0r-
mia, told me that while there he was one day walk
ing by tree that had been feled, which was so
thick that covered wagon, drawn by four horses,
passed on the other side, and though he heard 1t,
he could not see it till he walked round into the
road. In the neighborhood of the Sonora valley,
there are great number OF immense mel trees some
one that hollow and has fallen down. Is so large
that man can ride through it on horseback
Some of these celebrated trees are known by name:
Father Pine, the Three Sisters, Mother Tree,
Mother and Son, Twin Sisters, Pioneer Cabin,
Siamese Twins Guardian If the Times, Uncle
Toms Cabin, Pride of the Forest, Beauty Of the
Woods and Two Friends, are the largest.
Humboldt describes what he calls the SHIRT tree,
which grows on the slopes Of the Cerra Duida, in
South America. 1t is about fifty feet high; and
the Indians cut off piece about two teetin dame
ter, and as long as they wish their shirt and then
without cutting down the bark, strip it off careful
y. 1t is Abrogs, resembles coarse CLOTH and is OF
red color. Two holes are made for the arms to
90 through, and this seamless shirt is ready for
uSe
You all have very probably heard OF the Bread
futtree, which grows on the islands OF the Pacific
ocean. The fruit is about the size Of child s
head; and when gathered before it is perfectly
ripe. and baked in the ashes, becomes a whole
some bread, somewhat resembling wheat bread in
taste.
There is tree called the lNilstree, or the Co,o-
tree, which grows in Venezuela When the bark
is cut, rich juicy sap runs out, which IS, In taste
and color very much like cream. 1t flows most
abundantly in the morning, and at sunrise, crowds
of natives are to be seen Fastening to these veget
table COWS to procure their mornings beverage
have also read of a tree that yields substance
very much like butter.
The Tallow-tree grows in great abundance in
South America, and beautiful cakes OF Iallow are
obtained from it, by simply melting the nuts.
In Mexico, there is q tree that is soft enough to
be cut in any form when green; but in few years,
whether buried or exposed to the air, the wood be-
en- house of it, and in few years have fre-proot
stone building.
| The Irory-nut-tree grows in different parts OF
South America, and when the nut is fresh it can
be cut in any form; but exposure to the air har-
dens it, so that it is almost exactly like ivory
Most of us have seen little articles made fit.
| The Cannon-6aN tree Of Guinea, is another Gu
rious plant The nuts resemble immense cannon
balls and when they burst from the shell make
noise like the firing Of a gun:
Near the centre of the island of Fierro, one Of
the Canary group, which is almost destitute of
wells and springs, there is large evergreen tree
from the leaves and branches Of which, clear water
continually drops, so that the csterns that are built
around it are kept constantly filed. 1t is called
the Raining tree, and seems to be supplied with
water by cloud that always rests on the top of it.
Mrs. A. r. DICKSON.