, 1876-05-27
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.
Flora Round About Chicago.-Tho
Cashew Family.
The Coffee -plnnt-.-New ea-..Nortll.
Atlantic Exploration.
Oceanic Circulntion-.-T Telegraph Without
Wirc.s-Cn1neron to MIKE An-
other African Journey.
FLORA 1sOuNl, ABOUT CHICAGO.

FLORA ROUND ABOUT CHICAGO.
THE CABIEw FAML.r.---Along III Tic last Of
April or the first VI May, tho low, struggling
bushes Of the Fragrnnt Sumnc'l (Hhn arun'ati-
ca), which occur uM tho fnke-sllnrc north and
suutl. Ut thu city, ciothu itclr yet lca1lcss
branches with clusters Of small, paln-yrllow
flowers. Later, the leaves unfold their three
divisions, anl these, when crushed, cxhalo Il
SWEET perfume, which gives tho plant
It's popular and specific na,nes. III tho
month Of Junc, the roison-1vy e. 7nt-
itudentironl which must be guarded againtt
II, alunst every Wild place. shakes out It's 1oose
pnnclcs Of grecnssll-wl,ite blossoms. The plant
Is IL climber, with leaves divided into three
notchcd or lohed leaflets. To most persons 1t
proves violent potsoi,,-cvcn tho cxhnlattons
caustng very serious effects. Aln,ust every buy
has gone through tho experience Of iniiamcl
III consequence Of inadvertently touching the
Poisun Ivy (H. rdditdas) is noted by Pruf. Daf,-
eock an kr,irr1nE ncar Riverside, sumo sl>cu-
mems having etcl1ls ! Inches In diameter.
Tie poison sutnacf1 a. 1<neaafa) grove IN tho
statui,. 'rllis Is shrub reaching n height of
from to IS feet, anu bearing. pinnato leaves
with frcm seven to thirteen Leaflets. It is tho
mort poisonous nf all the species Of Rhus. II
Dwnrf sumueil q. eo1nsii,;al may be Eatl'crcd
at Miller's and ti{l,aoli's Stations. This low
sbr,tb il very ornamental iii August and
September, its pinnAtc leaves assuming thc
most brilliant autum,,nl cDlors. The Smooth
Su!nnrh (R. giabra) Ii common in nur vicinity.
1t is taller thA1t thu preceding species, and its
1carcs lave ErcatcF number Of leaflets. Bull
bcar tlclsc paulcca VI 1lowcrs, succeeded by very
handsome fruits COVERED With acId crimson
hairs.
family f.tuacurtiiact*e) represented In te United
statcs Gust of thu Mississippi, mud tho tlora
round atnMt chicago includes ilye out of tnc
Ing IN all ahottt 100 species. Most OF these are
natives of 'rrOpica Anrricn, Africa, md 1ntliu,
and nro trccs Of largo eizp. They ordinarily
abound IL u rcsno,s, or acrid, and highly
poisonous Juice. The Most important !ncnlbcr
IT tho falnlly Is the atang.>trco .tfanaitera n
dic.) whicl, Is an lnl,abtant Of 1ntlia- It Is
rApil grower, and attIns height Of 30 to 40
feet, the lower brancles starting fro.n tho stem
s or 10 feet above thu ground. The smooth,
lanccolatc, leathury lcaYes, 2 or = inclscs III
length, furn, an ililpGnctsabo ahadc, and give
out a sweet rcstnous smell. The kidney :shnprd
fruit IL the szs Of IL large pear, a1,1 of ! dell
.ions quality. 1tis greatly esteemed In India,
orally introduced! mud universally cultivated.
The pstarlio-rut, so lnucls prizctl In Europe
ind In E:lstcrn countries, wlcncu It orIginafly
came, is III. produce Of a species Of this order.
size Of olive, thu kcr1stl Of which Is nlly nnl
ltiral rt1ayorcd, LIKE IN almond. AiotlGr sI,e-
ics of llc SAINT: genus (l ys1i"thuS) yields il.c
tnrprlltlnc k!mwr IN commerce. MS l!c Cyprus,
Cllan, ur bciu turpcllttle. The Cashcw-lut
(.inacdrti;um 0teateutalt) Is also Il prorui-
ncnt member uf the family. luyinl,
It's holne In tho Tropics. The fruit
of this tree is n kianey-sllnpcd mt.
in btzc from Cherry tn an Grunge, and IL eulor
from white 10 4 yciiow ur rcd. This enlarged
as,d PUPPY stulk, with Its pleasant ard tastc, Is
cal!cu the nipple, and Is used as such; while the
juice, wien expressed, makes palatahle vinos.s
beverage, or, by dfstillation, highly fpirituous
liquor Ut agreeable tlaYor. Tic kcrnel pf the
nut Is oeaglnous mud wholesome, and much yal-
utA III Ill Mtictc Of food. The Clshew-trec
yields milky juice, tur,lIng black on exposure.
which forms in excellent yHrnsl, hut Is aer!
rs to produce Inflammation Ut the skin by con-
tact, or even by It's fumes uloue-