Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-11-05
ANNAPOLIS Md THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 5, 1891.



fuI as the animal kingdom affords, aud
when IL comes to longevity animal life
makes very poor comparative show ing.
If we were inclined TO travel far enough
we might sif under the shade Of Trees
that spread their branches when lttle
Moses slept 10 his wicker basket among
the bulrushes OF the Nile The lsigan.
tic trees Of California are very ola, but
they are infants compared with some Of
the wonderful. trees OF the Old World.
There is att African tree called the 0ao'
bah which lives to be thousands Ot years
old Humboldt calls it "ihe oldest or
ganic monument on our planet. One
specimen OF - that was carefully exam
ined by 40 English botanist proved TO be
5, 50 years old AT least that vas The re.
sult OF the usual tests foI determining the
lives OF trees This particular tiee vas
80 feet IN diameter and the spread VI It's
branches was enormous
Another wonder OF longevity is the so
called dragons blood tree Of Tenenffe.
Resin obtained from this tree has been
found in sepulchers where II had been
used 10 embalmlng the dead Trees of
tins species are now standing which afo
estimated as being older than the Egyp
tan pyramids
One OF the strangest Of trees is the lta
palm. found abundantly on the banks Of
the Amazon and other South American
rivers. la the swampy regions, which
cover immense areas the lta palm fur
nshes food. drink clothing and comfort
able homes foI the natives
The Indians that nhabrt these swampy
districts make tolerable wine from the
sap of the palm, and they distill stronger
stimuant by crushing and fermenting
the young fruits The food is derived
from the soft inner bark Of the stems,
and is a substance that, IN taste and APP
pearance closely resembles sago The soft
and tibrous bark is used for garments and
for making string. ropes, hammocks, and
the like In times Of high water, often
lasting two OF three months, the natives
make floorings in the trees with the bark
ropes and live there ia comfort and con.
tentment
The tree OF most varied usefulness is
probably what is commonly called the
American aloe II can hardly be digni-
fed by the name OF tree, and might more
properly be called plant II grows in
South America, and is found all the way
from the plains TO elevations 10000 feet
above the sea 1t furnishes thread for
sewing and ropes from which cables are
made strong enough to suspend bridge
more than 100 feet long. Humboldt
mentions one bridge 1870 feet long, swung
from cables four inches in diameter, that
was made from this palm bark.
Paper and clothing are also made from
the bark, aud the leaves are used for
cleansing. securing, and the manufacture
of razor strops. BY evaporating the
water from the thin sap soap is obtained,
"as detergent as CASTLE, and will mix
and form lather with salt wateras well
as with fresh, as a reputable authority
tells us.
The sap also contains sugar, aud this is
used largely in the manufacture Of liquor.
II is said that very Intoxicating brandy
is another product of the sap, and as tho
natives seem to have rather intermittent
attacks OF sobriety the statement is prob
ably correct.
The bread fruit tree 6ourishes in many
Of the islands of the South Pacific Ocean.
and also in some Of the islands of the
East Indies. The bread fruit is com
paratively large tree, averaging, perhaps,
one foot in diameter. The fruit is as
large as child's head. 1t is covered
with thin skin and has a relatively
small core. 1t is snowy white and about
the consistence Of newly baked bread.
In order TO prepare it for food it is cut
into large slices and roasted. 1t is said
to be easily digested and very nutritious,
and II certainly forms a staple article Of
food for thousands of people.
Another wonder of this kind is the COW
tree of South America, which is credited
with yielding a lacteal fluid which. in
color, taste, and nutritive property,
closely resembles the offerings of your
milkman. 1t forms large forests in some
districts OF Venezuela and is much priced
for its product.
The tallow tree Of China is so called
from the fact that it produces a substance
NcbCnlDihk bdiiOWg dud WAlAIn - uceu lDI
similar purposes. The fruit is inclosed
within pod. A white pulp is found
within. and this substance the Chinese
use in making candles, mixing little oil
with it to make it softerand more pliable
The paper tree Of the South Seas is a
species of the mulberry. Its inner bark
Is so delicate that a soft and pleasant
feeling cloth is made from it, which the
natives use in making their best suits.
Il is also used in the manufacture of
very fine grade OF paper.
The fiction about the deadly Upas tree
Of Java, which was published in Holland
. little more than 100 years ago, and
which was believed for many years, has
only this substantial basis: The tree
exudes poisonous juice, which the ma
lives dry and mix with other ingredients
for the tips of their arrows. Futher
more. the Upas tree is found in the low
valleys Of Java, where deadly carbonic
acid often escapes from creyices in vol
raDic Observation-Disclosures Times.
National Event.