The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-06-23
REMARKABLE TREES.
BY JASPER n. JENNINGS.

The vegetable world produces many strfl1-
ing examples of wonder and admiration
The study of botany is a deep one; and the
strange and mysterious processes Of plant
life has ever been a subject of research and
investigation for the philosopher and student
of science. The manner in which the ele-
ments are drawn from the soil and prepared
in ten thousand different forms and combi-
nations by the little chemical laboratories of
Nature, has ever engaged his earnest atten.
ton. There is yet much to be learned in this
department of physical science, and as we
delye deeper into the subject we soon become
convinced how small a part of the mighty
laws and operations of Nature are really
known. Every Lew discovery made, how
ever, and every new principle that appears
to unfold itself to the mind, procaims more
and more the grand and harmonious work of
the great Creator.
But we have not space in the present pa
per to enter into a description of the strange
and curious processes Of vegetable life, and
so we proceed 10 present an account of
few of the more wonderful examples to be
met with in this branch of external nature
We will commence the list with the stately
markable Towering tree, concerning which
so much has been said and written, is a gl-
gantic species of southern laurel. When
covered with its large white flowers, some of
which are said to be eight or nine inches in
diameter, it presents magnificent appear
ance and its fragrace fills the air with per-
fume to the distance of half a mile away. 1t
is often tall and graceful in form, though its
size and beauty has frequently been much
exaggerated. The largest specimens are SAID
to attain the height of one hundred feet: and
the top forms perfect cone. 1t will hardly
compare in size with northern sugar maple.
or sycamore, the cottonwood, or the stately
ash. The wood is soft of little value, and
the thick bark is smooth, like that of the
beech, and of a whitish color The leaves
somewhat resemble those of the orange tree,
though larger and thicker, and, while the
uppersurface is smooth and glossy, as though
it had been oied the under side is covered
with a soft, yelowish down.
The live oak is also a remarkable tree. ex
ceeding in the number and magnitude of its
branches that of any other tree on the Amer
ican Continent These put forth at the
height of about fifteen feet from the ground
| distance of fifty PAGES on a side. The wood
/ which is hard and tough forms a valuable
material for ship building. 1t is native of
/ the Southern States
/ The tallipot palm, of Ceylon and the East
i Indies, is chiefly noted for its immense leaves
/ The largest of these form stupendous fans
often twenty feet in length by fifteen across
and are the largest leaves of any known spe-
/ cies of vegetation They are large enough
! te shelter whole family and the natives
/ often use them for tents and umbrellas to
! shield them from the rain, and the scorchinp
rays of the midday tropical sun. The tree
I grows straight ana symmetrical, to about a
hundred feet in height, and is said to bios
som and bear fruit but once during its exist
Z ence
The upas, or poison tree of Java, has been
/ rendered famous by the many marvellous and
incredible stories that were once told con
corning it. 1t was said, and believed bv
many in former times, that its poisonous
fumes struck dead every living creature that
came within circle of many miles of where
+ it grew: and that the ground all about was
strewn with the dead carcasses and bleaching
bones of men and animals. How peoDIe
Z Couiu 70 ana see ana come Dack alive to tell
the story, was not told. Scientific travellers
pnterrifed by the reports of the superstitious
natives, finally visited the spot and the fab
ulous stories were soon set at naught. The
/ region was found to be of great fertility and
beauty; and the design of the natives in
/ spreading terrible stories about the deadly
upas was, in all probability, to keep foreign
+ ers away. The tree is tall and beautiful in
appearance, and produces sort of yellow
! frothy juice, which is said to be poisonous.
! There is a curious specimen of the vegeta-
bic creation, found growing among the rug
| ged and barren mountain sides of South
/ America, denominated the COW tree. Warm
summer showers, generally so essential for
/ vegetable growth, are rarely known in the
vicinity yet this singular production, with
/ apparently dry and withered branches, is
| reservoir of human food. The natives make
1ncisiOns in the bark, and milky juice, some