The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-05

There are more queer things 10 the
acre IN Arizona than IN any other part
OF TINS wide land" said Colonel Brace
DION, OF houcks Tank, Apache county,
10 reporter for the New York sun, and
according TO my idea, and / know pretty
near what queer things are, the queerest
thlhs ~ al Arizona il the tree tnat has
temper worse than a blond comic opera
prllna donnas and gets its dander up
with Just as small provOcatOn. They tell
me out there that this tree belongs TO
the cOhferOus species. II grows 10 be
something like TWENTY-FIVE feet high and
then Stops. It's leaves are long, slender
and pointed, like porcupine quilts. When
TINS tree Is in good humOr these leaves
lie close 10 the branches. and II spreads
aromatic odor all around But when II
Is angry every leaf on the tree rises up on
end and the aspect OF that particular
piece Of timber Is about as fierce and
threatening as anything you would care
10 look al. The pleasant resinOus odOr
the tree sent forth in its peaceful mood
gives way 10 an OdOr that will put wings
on your feet 10 place as much distance
as you can between the offensive tree and
yourself.
This tree Is especially touchy on the
subject OF dogs, and the coming Of a
canine anywhere near IL Will Instantly
make II furious. Yet a wolf, a grizzly
bear or mountain lion never rufles the
temper Of this tree II those animals do
not presume on too great familiarity with
IT. Ihey may lie around IL as long as
they care 10. but IL one Of them so far
forgets itself as TO rub or scratch the
trunk Of the tree the hOt-tempered thing
will fly into one of its tantrums instant
ly. and the way Mr.. Bear, Wolf or Lion
will make himself scarce in those parts
Is whole circus 10 see. Nothing VIII
work this tree up TO concert pitch. though
so quick and effectuany as throwing
stones at it, Then IT will actually rip
and tear, and no living thing would think
OF going within gunshot OF IT, Some folks
out ut Houck's Tank call this tree the
porcup!ne tree and some say its right
name is skunk tree. | call IT the holy
terror tree. But no matter what you call
II. II is queer job of nature and Arizona
claims il as her own.
"While this tree is the only real, geny-
inc sort Of a vegetable kingdom crank
we've got in Arizona, we point with
some more pride TO another tree that only
Arizona soil has the talent 10 produce.
This one is the electric light tree. This
tree Is not as abundant as the holy terror
tree. and is a dwarf. seldom having the
courage TO get more than twelve feet
high. Its foliage Is very dense. and at
night II CLEANS like an arc light The
light that SHINES from this tree is so
away and read fine print. The queerest
point OF this tree Is that It's light begins
to grow dim with the coming Of the new
moon and steadily loses brilliancy until
the moon IS full. Then the tree IS as
dark as a mine. When the moon begins
10 wane the trees luminosity Is gradu-
ally renewed. and by the time the moon
has disappeared the tree is shining again
as brightly as ever. SOmetmes the light
on this queer tree becomes faint even in
the dark OF the moon. Then We have 10
do a queer thing 10 restore ii. We drench
instantly the eNulsent glow will return
In all its DrilliancVb