The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-02-12

CURIOUS AND INTERESTING,
FORMS.
To BE Found In the Vegetable
KingdOm-PecullaF Charac-
teriStics.

The vegetable Kingdom is full OF
unique forms, many OF which, TO
the common reader, L almost, ii
not entirely unknown. Some of
these, from their form, habits or
productions, are quite curious aud
interesting. The gOurd tribe furn.
iShes some interesting species.
One of these, the Cucnrbita cavi-
tormiS, grows in the vicinity of
ConstantIuOple, and is believed by
the people of that country to be
the real JOnah's gourd. 1t forms
An almost iinpermeable shade, un-
der which the Orieutials delight to
sit aud smoke. The curious fruit
hang down IN long, delicate clubs,
somewhat resembling large, over.
grown candles. This fruit is pre-
pared tor food By Scooping out tho
central portioa and filling it with
torce-meat. II is then boiled, when
it forms a very palalable dish.
Another member of this family
is the squirting cucumber, Momor-
dica Elaterium, which is remark
able for the strange property 1t his
when ripe of throwing ito seed cou-
tents TO a considerable distance on
being touched or shaken. AS the
fruit approaches maturity there is
an accumulation of huid in it till it
can contain no more, when upon
the least touch or jar, the Substance
about the stem gives away, aud the
contents are thrown out with force
sufficient to carry them several
yards. and ii report, as OLA popgnn,
that may be heard alta considerable
distance. Persons passing heal
them often fluid themselves bespat.
tered from head to loot by the pul.
ny contents OF these vegetable pop
guns.
CANDLE TREE AND RAIN TREE.
In tue valley of the Cbagres
theie grow whole forests OF the can
die tree. From the stems and
branches OF these depend the long,
cA lindriOil fruits of "a yellow WAX
color that 81 much resemble huge
candles as 10 have suggested tho
popular name. The fruit il from
two to three feet long aud All inch
in diameter. The Trees grow to
the height OF twenty-tour N%. aud
blooms all the year round, fAiongh
most a%bundantly during he rainy
season, but the principal harvest of
the fruit is during the long dry
season. The fruit + as food
for cattle, which, when ted on it
and some OF the native plants, SuOn
grow quite fat. The meat OF the
cattle fed OH this fruit has u peculiar
though not disagrceabls apple like
Odor.
A tree known as the rain tree,
PithecollobIum Samon, is found in
the drier parts OF South America.
This tree grows TO the height of
sixty feet, aud its leaves have the
peculiar propriety of cOndensing
The moisture from the atmosphere.
So copiOus is this condensation
that u continued shower falls from
the leaves aud branches uutil tho
surrounding soil is converted into
"a Veritabie marsh. Places That
would otherwise be - barren de.
sert vre by this means covered
with The most luxuliant forests.
Ii is said thar the British govern
mrnt is Introducing tbFs Tree into
India To cOunteract The andity OF
portions OF that country.
A VERY UNPLEASANT NElGHBoR.
Queensland furnishes a shrub
that would certainly make a very
unpleasant neighbour. 1t IL the
singing tree, a very luxurious,
pleasing.loOking shrub, varying in
from two or three inches to
leu or fifteen feet. Though pleas
ing TO the eye, it is dangerous TO
he touch, as the pain il produces
maddeuing. No mark is left but
tor months the place is tender to
he touch in rainy weather, or
when wet byi washing, or other
1t exhales a peculiar, dis
agreeable odOr that gives notice of
Is proximity, aud enables the ex-
.Derienced and cautious to avoid
contact with it. So cxctuciating is
he pain that q man OF ordinary
ortltude when stung will roll on
he ground in uncomfortable agony.
A horse will, alter passing through
grove OF trees, rush with open
month at any Que who da2bs APP
'rOach him. A dog und6S such
circumstances will rush around,
shining in a piteOns manner, Bit
ng and tearing the flesh from the
affected by the sting.
A bush, the fruit OF which is
allied the ''soap berry," Is found
D great abundapcG throughout
Alaska. The, fruit, when ripe, 10
small red berry Of a juicy and
taste, and is generally
ienHial. II a quart OF these ber-
les be placed in a tub capable of
a bushel, aud we'll stirred,
hey viii form q suds or froth that
ilI completely Oh the tub. The
Iore it is stirred with the hand the
it becomes, till it can be
It with a knife. A whole family
I natives will gather around the
Id and eat this iiothy substance