Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-06-15

CnAHAaIN CHAHAN. OR WEATHER
PRoPHEr This wonderful plant was
discovered IN Arabia, by Prof. liouls
Sabbath Ullmun. In the early part of
1859, on his return to this country, he
applied for and received letters patent
for the United States, and subsequent
~ England, Austria and Prussia, for
his valuable discovery. The motive
power of tine barometer is adt'Te the
patent 90 using the plant for that pur
pose. For the original discovery Of
this wonderful plant we would quote
the beautiful language of Prof. Ullman
himself: ''Seat al in front of n bazaar
early one morning, an Arab from the
desert accosted me, presenting, at the
time, with his compliments, "A bunch OF
beautiful flowers. After making some
purchases he left and | examined my
rare exotics, was struck with the Curl
Gus appearance of one singularly con
yoluted and twisted little plant. yet,
without more Thought, being called
away, 1 dropped 1t upOn the wash
stand. Upon returning, 1 was sur
prised Ia find that this little plant, sin-
gularly twisted up when placed upon
the wet table, had now become elOnga-
ted and almost perfectly straight
Picking it up, took it to tue door to
examine at, aud, upon the suns rays
falling upon it, it speedily returned to
lis former spiral shape, and became
almost Immediately as twisted and
curled as when first it drew my atten-
ton.
Attracted 10y the great scnsitiveness
of this plant, L at once fixed IL upon a
card, aud placed 1t where 1t would be
exposed to the air, yet protected from
the weather; and strange as it may
seem, it indicated straightway the diff
-ferent variations of the atmosphere.
at once discovered that l had natural
weather indicator aud microscope. Ella
ted with my discovery, 1 started at
once in search of the Arab who gave it
to me, and soon found him stopping at
caravansaria near by. Questioning
him abOut the plant aud where found,
the next day we started on our Journey
to the region of country. After two
weeks of travel, L found it was near
Damascus. The growth of tile plant
Is confined to a narrow rocky strip of
land barren of vegetation, except a
species of fern and the rare plant. The
botanical description of the Oriental
taiisman is thus: 1t has six tuberOus
long roots, from twelve to sixteen inch
es In length, with tangled. fiber starting
into every direction, into the scanty
soil; from each root, spring from one to
three hundred stalks, each stalk having
from ten to fifteen flowers. and each
flower produces only one weather
prophet or talisman, which grows ia a
naturally twisted form"
There is no acid known tn the scien-
tifie world that will destroy this plant
or impair its sensiiiveness. We saw
one put into three different acids, in
BOsworth's, IN this city, for over an
hour; but they had no effect on tin
the same time acopper cent would have
been eaten up. As weather indicator,
IL has been tested by the leading scien-
tilic men of the country, who pronounce
it more correct than any Barometer
known, 10 fOretell coming ram. There
lore, NJ will come Into general use. III
certainly is a most wonderful plant A
company of our business men have
bought the right to sell the Barometer
in this state. - @ ----
The right TO sell the Barometer 10
Pennsylvania sold for $4,000; Ohio,
$4,000, so great is the demand fol
them from all classes, especially farm
ers. They are reliable to foretel com
ing rain from twelve to thirty-sil
hours in advance, and sold at 81, which
is price within the reach of all
County right to sell them for sale 10y
the company at their office, 70. Yes
Water, Milwaukee. We understand
over ii, 600 were sold In Canada alone
We learn from the Winona Repub
lican that Michael Grass and a DO,
IA med VIM. Beach. while in a skiff ii
the river at that place were upset an,
drowned. A MIR. Kimball was also il
the skiff, but was rescued by maj