The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-27

It is also used for glue, and is said to be durable.
 Another curious South American tree, and one about which many romantic tales have been woven, is the so-called rain tree," which possesses a reservoir for water in a hollow at the base of its leaf. The natives have long asserted that un. der it's shade grass will grow in wonder full abundance. This is due to the inter- esting fact that the leaves of the tree possess the power of independent motion. At sunset the leaves close together al- lowing dew to form on the grass beneath. With the reappearance of the sun the leaves expand again and thoroughly screen the grass beneath, thus effectually checking excessive evaporation.
 In India seven different species of trees are considered sacred, and worshiped ac- cordingly. Among them the finest look ing and the most useful is the aswatta, or Pagoda fig tree. Vishnu, one of the Hindu gods, is said to have been born under it. To fell one of these trees would be an unpardonable act of sacrilege. me Vepu, or margosa tree. which is dedt- cated to Sva, is sometimes married 10 the aswatta with impressive ceremonies.
 An amusing story is told about the peepul another sacred tree. The polltlcal agent of Ulwar, Hindustan, some years ago wished to plant an avenue Of trees on either side of the road, in front or the shops for shade purposes, and had decided to use peepul trees, but the shop- keepers one and all declared that II this were done they would not take the shops. When pressed for reason they replied they could not tell untruths or swear falsely under the shade or the pes pull tree, and added: -
 How can we carry on business other wiser"
 The force of~this argument seems 10 have been acknowledged, as the point was yielded and other kinds of trees "ere planted. ,
 An exceedingly interesting plant, which has been introduced from Aria, Is the burning bush (Dictamnus fraxinel,al. If is probable that this is the burning bush of which mention is made Ill tue Old Testament. Like great many ol me half desert plants, it Is full or ac,ii' ethereal odorous substance on caiiii, hot sum,ner's day this material exudes eror, the leaves and surrounds tine plant with an invisible, vaporous atmosphere, which is supposed to assist in preventing inc water from evaporating or Delhs transpired from the leaves.
 If one places a lighted match littls below the leaves or flowers this vapor catches fire, and there is display olf flames and smoke, with little explosions a may be injured if it is set on fire too sre- ouently, but generally does not seem to be any the worse for the experiment.
 curious plant. which possesses the rather repulsive title of "snake plant (Amdrophopphalius companuiatus) found in South America and Asia, few specimens having been brought 10 tnis country In China it is known as 'iie devils tongue" or the sleeping pant
 kl. natives The almost unbearable odor IL pives out when in bloom is said to nave the effect of producing sleep and some times causing death. It will grow to height of seven to 10 feet, and In ap- pearance is like monster snaKe-hAe' striped lily.
 When the writer was in the West ih- dies several years ago a native wno wss helping collect specimens in the iores's called his attention to vine wnich ,.ae growing on some ruins. Plueking i,s tnle or four leaves from it, he said 1t was .ne Hove plant" and that his empioyel should hang them somewhere ana wii'e the name of his "best girl on tneHi'
 If they die," he said, 'she does not love you If they sprout, she uoos. writer put the names of severai woinen members of his family on tneI,i anu ,'ss ..uns them from the ceiling by strings. froiii aocb there soon sprouted a dozen or more ,ittle leaves greener and fresher than the main leaf itself.
 In South America is found an ornamen- tai plant which has acquirea the eosno- men of coughing plant rom the pe- o,,liar noise if makes at times. This plant has an intense aversion to dust, and as soon as a few grains are deposited on its leaves the stomata, or air chambers which cover their faces. and which are inc respiratory organs of the plant, be- come filled with gas and swell. The gas is given out with slight explosion and sound which resembles the coueh of child suffering from cold.
 Probably the oldest botanical curiosity fin the world Is found in the Malay peniii- sula It is merely blossom, without leaves, vine or stem, and grows as . parasite In decayed woof