Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-31
TREES THAT WEEP.
And nm Interesting Account of al
Ant stable.

(St. Louis Republic)
The peculiar phenomenon OF weeping
or raining trees appears 10 be quite gene
raj lust now. A gentleman writes TO the
Republic from Red Bud, ILL.,. that the
early maple trees there, which are she'd
ding their leaves. are apparently raining.
and that any one standing beneath may
feel a perceptlble spray.
He Is inclined to attribute the phenome-
non 70 the fact that the sap Is oOzing
out OF the trees where the leaf falls from
the limb.
Professor william Trelease. Of Wash
ington University and Shaw's Garden.
however. holds a different view and at
tributes the phenomenon tosthe agency
Of an inse, t. or rather an infinite number
OF insects.
III the gentleman is absolutely posi-
tive" said Professor Trelease. that the
tree IS bleeding in the manner he sug-
sests. that would. Of course, account for
the shower he describes. il is far more
likely that either the plant louise or the
tree hopper IS responsible for Il. We had
a very similar happening In the garden
about five years ago, when an Asiatic
cork tree commenced TO rain. One OF our
men spent almost an entire day on q lad
der watching the leaves in order 10 solve
the problem He succeeded at last and
it was clearly shown that the weeping
was due 10 the exuiing Of drops OF moist
ure from the tree hopper a little
multicolored insect that Is often found
IN myriads on the leaves.
"A similar result can be achieved
by the plant louise or aphid. a green or
gray insect with red eyes. The aphid is
equipped with two tubercles on his back,
from which, at times. drops Of honey dew
are emitted. The presence Of quantities
of either of these insects on the maple
trees would account for the phenomenon
Of raining trees. l think the aphid is
the more likely 10 have caused the ex-
element. as at this season that enter
prisiug little fellow Is very much IN EVIL
dence on maple trees
A proof of the probable correctness OF
Professor Trelease's opinion was afford
ed a few moments later. when. accom-
panied by superintendent Grunley. Of the
Garden. ami another gentleman. tho
Professor aud the Republic represen-
tative made a close examination OF a
number Of silver maple trees. quite a
number Of aphids were found on the
leaves A microscopic investigation re-
vealed their staring red eyes. although
each insect was not much larger than
an everyday mosquito. on neighbOr-
ing vine specimens OF the other rain pro-
Queer. the tree-hopper, We're also caught,
despite the agility of the hopper, which
amply justified its name.
The aphid Is an insect on which Pro-
fessor Trelease is peculiarly competent 10
talk. as me has studied its habits for
years. Probably not one man i'm a hun
dred knows that the aphid, or plant
louise. is known among scientists as the
ants COW. The reason is that the ant,
being very fond OF honey-dew. and know
ing that the aphid is producer thereof.
cares for and milks the aphid much as
mankind makes use OF the cow.
one OF the greatest authorities says on
this subject: ANTS regard the aphlds
as their mich cows. An ant will walk
up to an aphid. stroke its back with it's
autennae. and Immediately the pleased
aphid gives forth a drop OF sweet fluid.
which the ant at once drinks up The
ants take very good care OF their cattle.
and viii carry them % new pastures II
the cd ones dry up. They also carry
the aphid's eggs, who then rests, and
keep them stabbed during the winter. and
then carry the young plant lice out and
put them or plants in the spring"
Fifteen yea . ago Professor Trelease
wrote and p blished a paper describing
remarkable expert nee OF his own. Du-
ring his researchoe Ia a swamp at Woods
Hole. Mass. he came across n small
nest. made Of little bits OF decayed wood.
4 careful scrutiny revealed the fact that
il was O complete stable. with a door al
either end and I'm II n number cf ants
lad corralled a larger number Of aphids
for milking purposes. The ants fought
ike tigers when disturbed. but Professor
Trolease captured he entire outfit, and
was able 10 study il at his leisure.