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

]
The vegetable world produces many stril5-
/ ing examples Of wonder and admiration
/ The study of botany is 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
Z of science. The manner in which the ele-
meuts 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 Few discovery made, how
ever, and every new principle that appears
to unfold itself to the mind proclaims 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 TO 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
D Il
markable Towering tree concerning which
so much has been said and written, is gI-
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 mile away IL
( 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 a 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
/ upper surface is smooth and glossy, as though
! it had been oiled, the under side is covered
with a soft. yellowish down
/ The livs 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
and spread out, in some instances, to the
distance of fifty PAGES on a side. The wood
which is hard and tough, forms a valuable
material for ship building. 1t is a native of
the Southern States
The tallipot palm, of Ceylon and the Fast
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-
. ri -
TO shelter a 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
/ grows straight and symmetrical, to about a.
hundred feet in height, and is said to bios
som and bear fruit but once during its exist
/ 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 nv
/ many in former times that its poisonous
I fumes struck dead every living creature that
came within a circle of many miles of where
1t grew: and that the ground all about was
strewn with the dead carcasses and bleaching
bones of men and animals How peopla
could go and see and come back alive to tell
the story was not told Scientific travellers.
Rnterrihed by the reports of the superstitious
natives, finally visited the spot and the fab
uious stories were sooD 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
uDas was, in all probability, to keep foreign
ers away. The tree is tall and beautiful in
appearance, and produces a sort of yellow
frothy juice, which is said to be poisonous.
There is curious specimen of the yegeta-
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 A
reservoir of human food. The natives make
incisions in the bark, and milky juice, some