Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-11-06
Wonderful Trees.

amman HE makes very poor coiu
parative showing. IL We are inclined
TO travel far enough We might sit un-
der the shade OF trees that spread
their branches when little Moses slept
in his wicker basket among the bul-
rushes OF the Nile. The gigantic
trees of California are very old, but
they are infants compared with some
OF the wonderful trees OF the Old
World
There is an African tree called the
baobab, which lives 10 be thousands
Of years old Humboldt called it"the
oldest organic monument on our
planet" One specimen OF IL that
was carefully examined by an Eng
lish botauist proved To be $3.50 years
old. At least that was the result OF
the usual tests for determining the
lives Of trees. This particular tree
was 30 feet in diameter, and the
spread Of il. branches was enor-
nous.
so-called dragons blood tree of Ten
erifTe. Resin obtained from this tree
has been found in sepulchres, where
it had been used for embalming the
dead. Trees OF this species are now
standing which are estimated as being
older than the Egyptian pyramids.
No.. - sl,. - ra n tr.aS l. flR
Ita palm. found abundantly on the
banks OF the Amazon and other South
American rivers. In the swampy re-
gions, which cover immense areas,
the Ita palm furnishes food, drink,
clothing aud comfortable homes for
the natives.
The Indians that inhabit these
swampy districts make IA tolerable
wine from the sap OF the palm, aud
they distill stronger stimulant 10y
crushing and fermenting the young
fruits The food is derived from the
soft inner bark OF the stenis, and l. IA
substance that. in taste and appear
ance. closely resembles sago. The
soft and iibrous bark Is used for gar
ments and for making strings, ropes,
hammocks and the like. La time of
high water, often lasting two or three
months. the natives make foorings
in the trees with the bark ropes aud
live there in comfort and content
ment.
The tree OF most varied usefulness
is probably what is commonly called
the American aloe. Ii can hardly he
dignitied by the name OF tree, and
might more properly be called
plant 1t grows in South America.
and Is found all the way from the
plains to elevations 10000 feet above
the sea. IL furnishes thread for sew
ing and ropes from which cables are
made strong enough to suspend n
bridge more than hundred feet
long. Humboldt mentions one bridge
1870 feet long, swung from cables 4
inches in diameter that were made
from Juls phlln ohTh.
Paper and clothing are also made
from the bark, and the leaves are
used for cleansing, securing and the
manufacture of razor strops. BY
evaporating the water from the thin
sap soap is obtained, las detergen.
as CASTLE. and will mix and form
lather with salt water "a well a. with
fresh, r as reputable authority tells
us.
The sap also contains sugar, aud
this il rsed largely in the manufhc-
ture OF liduor. IL il said that very
intoxicating brandy il another pro
duct OF the sap, and as the natives
seem To have rather intermittent Mt
tacks OF sobriety the statement Is
probably correct.
The bread fruit tree lourishes Ia
many OF the islands of the South Pa
cilic Ocean and also Ia solJc OF the IL
lands OF the East Indies. IL n n com
paratiyply large tree. averaging per
haps. foot IN diameter. The fruit IL
as large as a child's head. IL II Gov
cred with thin skin and has a rels-
lively small core. IL Is snowy white
and about the consistence OF newly
baked bread. Ia order TO preps re IL
it IL cut into large slices and roasted.
It Is said to. be easily digested and
very nutritious, and Il certainly forms
a staple article OF food for Thousands
Of people.
Another wonder Of this kind II the
I COW tree OF South America. which IL
credited with yielding n tactical fluid
which, in color, taste and nutritive
property, closely resembles the offer
ings Of your miIkman. IL forms large
forests in some districts Of VeDeznla
aud is much priced for It's product
The tallow tree OF China Is 80 called
from the fact that il produces n sub
/ stance res, milling talIow, aud which
/ is used for similar purposes. The
fruit IL enclosed within a pod. A
white pulp Is found within. and this
I substance the Chinese use Ia making
candles. mixing a little oil with IL to
make it softer and more pliable.
The paper tree Of the South Seas is
"A species of the mulberry. Its inner
bark il so delicate that d soft and
pIeasant-feeIing cloth IL made from II.
which the natives use ia making their
'best suits" IL Is also used Ia the
manufacture Of a very fine grade Of
paper.
The fiction about the deadly Upas
tree Of Java. which was published ia
Holland q little more than hundred