Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-12
STRANGE PLANTS.
Some Of the Curious Growths That Trav~
clcrs Have Noted.

Some Of the Curious Growths That Tr~v~
cIcrs Have Noted.
; Early travellers in China and Tar
tary speak of plant of flesh and
blood, with the shape and appear
anoe of lamb, having feet, tail and
head distinctly formed and it's skin
covered with soft down" The lamb
is said to grow upon n stalk three
/ feet in height and to turn about and
/ bend to the herbage that serves for
its food, and when the grass fails it
dries up and withers away.
There is some foundation for this
queer story in the existence of sin
gulsrly shaped plant recently dis
covered which has sort of woolly
/ covering, and in order to heighten
| the general effect the natives trim
the plant and adjust the long light,
silky hairs that cover it in such a
style rs to give it the appearance of
n wool clad animal. 1t is natural to
suppose that this plant would with
or when the grass begins to fall, for
even if 1t did not subsist upon the
grass as reported the same drought
that served to kill the grass would
naturally destroy the plant.
The value of the plant world, not
only in furnishing the pulpy materi-
al of which paper is manufactured,
but also i'll supplying the paper it.
self outright, may not DO fully ap.
preciatod by those who have not in
vestigated the subject. 1t is we'll
known that the Egyptian papyrus
in early days was tho main source
from which anything like our mod
orn paper was derived. This was q
reed that grew by the brooks, with
a stem six to ten feet in height and
about an inch in diameter. These
were pooled, and the pith was cut in
to thin slices, which were then laid
side by side, with the edges touch
ing one another. After being sprin-
killed. with water, heavy pressure
was applied. and they were thus
united into one piece.
1t may not be so generally known
that there now grows in Asia tree
the bark of which is made into
sheets about yard square, and
these are used for all the ordinary
purposes Of paper, being very tough
and durable. The soft and durable
Chinese rice paper is not the prod,
uct of any part of the rice plant, but
is the pith of tree, which, by the
aid of lathe and u sharp instru
ment, Is out into very thin and deli
cate rolls.
The lighting materials furnished
by trees is another thing worth
noting, among which may be men
toned the Japanese wax tree, which
bears punches of fruit growing like
grapes and containing a species OF
wax used in making candles. Anoth
or tree is found in the Pacific is
lands known as the candle nut
which yields a large quantity of oil
the kernels being strung togethe,
on q stick and lighted as candle
We may also mention the oandl,
tree, the fruit of which is three OF
four feet in length and about an incl
in diameter and of a yellowish col
or, hanging from the tree so as t.
present the appearance of wax can
dies and in suoh abundance as t.
give the idea of a chambers shop.
A slender, erect shrub grows in In
} dia to which the name of the tele
graph plant has been given, beoaus,
of a resemblance to railway tele
graph signals in the motion of it
trifoliate leaves, the two side one.
rising and falling alternately for {
time and then resting for period
and again starting into motion.
They are most active in the early
morning. Sometimes many of tn,
leaves may be seen in action at once
and then again only a few seem t.
be inspired with motion, which
shows that their action does not de
pend upon the wind.-Philadelphif
, Times