The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-01

hight of $50 feet. When the great naviga-
tor approached that coast he saw this
tree, and took it for a pagoda built by the
natives. Fancying they were warlke peo-
pie, he made no landing and left the coast.
Another specimen, now in the conserva-
tory, was brought to this country by
Commodore Wilkes, who secured 1t in his
celebrated voyage around the world.
When he reached New York the tree was
stolen by one of his sailors and sold to
lady in Brooklyn. She placed 1t in her
greenhouse. Within a few years 1t grew
so large that the green house became too
small for it. Then her conscience trou-
bled her and she sent 1t to the botanic
garden, where it belonged. The tree re-
| sembes a mountain fir, but the leaves are
far more delicate.
Ten steps further on and a collection of
fig trees appears Here is the sycamore
fig from Egypt 1t grows from twenty to
thirty feet in hight. This specimen is
knotty and gnarled, and somewhat resem-
bles the southern mangrove. This is the
wood from which collins were made thou
sands of years ago for the Egyptian num-
mics No insect ever attacks it. Near it
the far-famed mango tree appears. 1t
| bears a delicious tropical fruit This tree
has been in the garden for more than
forty years. It. is about eight feet high,
| but has been cut back repeatedly, so as to
| keep it within the hot house in winter.
Passi1g>on you come to a group of rub
Der trees.
''Why do you keep these rubber trees
among the fig trees?' the superintendent
was asked.
Because" he replied, "the rubber tree
| is a fig tree, All the rubber trees decorat-
ing homes in New England and elsewhere
| in the country are fig trees. In Paris they
were first used in restaurants as table
| decoratio It is of the same genus as the
ierf There
| sixty kinds of fig trees, but only four spe-
cies bear edible fruit.
The fig trees stood beneath a very shady
| maple. Its bark was black, and II was
covered with dark green leaves. The gar
| den contains no more thrifty tree. 1t is
| the black sugar maple, found in the
| southern states. The soil here seems to
| be exactly suited to 1t. A Vermont maple
which stood near, seems to be dying of
| the heat. Among the other trees is a va
riegated crown fig from New South
Wales, and a laurel leaf fig from India.
| The collection is rounded up with the
Ficus Cunningham, from Queensland.
Near these figs a magnificent specimen
| of the candlenut tree is seen. 1t was
| brought here from the-Fiji Islands by
| Commodore Wilkes over fifty years ago.
! The natives used these nuts in the place
! of Oil They were suspended upon
| string hanging from the peak of the nut.
kindled a flame in the lower nut, which
was drawn down to the end of the string.
Each nut burned about ten minutes. When
| the last nut on the string was burned,
it was a hint for the visitor to take his
| departure.
A candle tree from Panama attracts
| equal interest. 1t has plain leaves and
| stately presence. The seeds are of the
| size of and resemble a tallow dip. A tub
| Of New Zealand fax recalls an interesting
incident. Years ago Prof. Mackey ap-
peared before committee of the House of
| Commons, dressed from head to foot in
| an attire made from the fiber Of this plant.
| It's leaves resemble the yucca or bear
grass of the south, but are very much
| longer. Mackey proposed to plant 1t In
Ireland, fancying that 1t would give rise
TO a new industry The experiment fall
ed. because it was found impossible to
remove the green substance from the
leaves. They could not be bleached nor
macerated without spelling the fiber Inc
New Zealanders scrape the green color
away with Shells but the job Is an ardu-
| Gus and difficult one.
Near the hot house we find a fragrant
| olive from China. Its buds are used in
! havoring tea and are very valuable. rms
tree has been scattered throughout the
SOUTH and there are many fine specimens
in Florida A tamarind near by brought
a smile 10 the face of the superintendent.
| HMany wears ago" he said, "a very worthy
Quaker sowed some tamarind seeds in
Virginia, They sprouted and came up, but
the cold weather killed all but one-at
least, so the Quaker thought. This one
grew until 1t bore seeds, and the Quaker
sold them to the seed department of the
patent Office, from which point they were
distributed north, south, east and west
as Virginia tamarinds. They were really
nothing but the common honey locust,
which had been mistaken by the old Quak-
er for a tamarind, which il somewhat re-
sembles." Far more interesting is the
hydrocarpus inebrlens. 1t Is a native of
Ceylon. and grows upon the banks of its
streams The fruit drops into the water
and is eagerly eaten by the fish. 1t has
an intoxicating effect upon them. The flesh
Of such fish when eaten by human be-
ings also produces intoxicaton ana is
poisonous.
A camphor tree elicits the information
from the superintendent that efforts have
been made 10 disseminate camphor trees
In Florida. They nave also been planted
along the streets OF New Orleans by Prof.
Maitre as shade trees These trees are
said TO prevent malaria
Last OF all worth scheduling Is what Is
known as the mate. This is a fine speci-
men OF this celebrated tree. The South
Americans use it's leaves for tea. Eight
million pounds OF them are annually gath
cred. II has been In use for many centu-
ries. The Indians were drinking the de-
coction when Columbus discovered Amer
lea. Large branches are cut from the
plants aud placed on hurdles until proper
iy roasted. They are then thrown upon
hard floor and beaten. The dry leaves thus
knocked off are reduced to powder. This
powder Is made into packages and sold by
the South American merchants. About
teaspoonful OF It Is thrown into a gourd or
cup. with a little sugar Boiling water is
poured upon Il, and when sufficiently cool
ed II Is lmbibed through tube. It's odor Is
agreeable and slightly aromatic. II tastes
little better at first, but Is extremely re-
froshing and restorative after great IA
tigue. The opium eater will drop his habit
quicker than a South American Will drop
the habit OF drinking this tea. Superin-
tendent Smith IS making an effort 20 In
troduce the tree into Dade county, Flori-
da, and other parts OF the south.
The handsomest tree along the walk II a
cut-leaf soft maple. This curiosity In the
vegetable kingdom Is on a par with the
albino IN the animal kingdom. The tree
was originally found IN the mountains by
nurseryman by the name OF Weir who
porpetuated II by nursing and grating.
Near by Is an enormous Scotch birch. II
has a bark like that OF balm OF Gilcad. A