The Washington herald., 1908-08-07

II YOU have nothing else to do some I
afternoon next week. drop over 10 the
greenhouses connected with the Agri-
cultural Department and snake hands
with Miss Barcsnia Foetida and Mss
Laportea. You viii fnd the experience
interesting. and it viii give you some
Ting TO tell your friends about when they
allow YOU 10 break into conversation
Foetida is a quiet. retiring little plant
about eighteen inches high, dividing into
! three branches, all green. soft and IN
viting. Every time you have gone
I through q greenhouse you have had an in
sane desire to catch the various plants
between your thumb and forefnger and
give them little sqeezes. just as you
have an irresistible impulse 20 put your
finger on fresh paint TO find whether it Is
dry. The greenhouse watchman has
firmly suppressed the craving for pinch
ing other plants. but he will say moth
ing II Foetida is given the surreDttious
grip.
Laugh VIII Be on You.
No; the watchnan will say nothing. You
. VIII say all that is 20 be said The watch
man merely will laugh. Your fiow OF
language. probably. viii continue inter
mittently for a couple Of weeks. as that IS
about the period required TO cleanse your
hands OF the perfume that is impaired
to them BY the Inohensive-looking FOet-
2 ida. Compared 10 the odor Of a bruised
+, Foetida. a Limburger cheese is a high
= priced cologne. and the scent Of an Eas'
! side tenement is as altar OF roses Il !:
. a degenerate cross between q burning
3 gum shoe and rancid valerian. and wheI
4 II IS once on the hands. It cannot be re
e moved by anything yet discovered
Filled with rage az the actions Of Foet
- ida go down the aisle TIL you come 20
J. plant two and a half feet high. with on
T broad leaf spread over its top, umbrella
!. fashion. and several punches Of fruit tina
e have the appearance Of overgrown rasp
!. berries. Grab a handful Of the leaf-an
Y then go home until you learn not I
touch government property
]. Laportea Brings Anguish
II I.aportea is a native OF New Mexlcc
J. where IL is known 10 the laity as IN
E .-stinzing plant" and is a remarkable IN
r. stirution- Even slight contact 5etwee
Il the human skin and the underside Of n
leaf produces immediate results. With
~ around the place touched has become re
,f and little white blisters appear IN Ia
"A an hour pans shoot up the arm, II q
= contact has been on the hand. and und'
a. the arm is excruciaJing pain PaiI
: course Horn one side Of the chest 20 u
= other. and the lungs have the congestt
/ feeling which accompanies a bad col
"a This state Of affairs continues for aDO
be half an hour when the patient gradual
IL obtains relief but the spot which becan
he too familiar with the plant remains Sc
er sitive for about three weeks Form
a acid is said to be the active agent IN q
e work Of the singing plant Dut. VIVA
- ever il is. 70 IS a wonder
Jumping Leaves There, Too.
ny Another o6dity in the same hothouse
: the Chluus mole II IS a small bushl
y, plant. with narrow leaves Take one
- the leaves. break it in two. and tho
the pieces into water Almost INN
7os diately the pieces begin jumping arou
pt. on the water with the uncertain. jerI
as motion Of the little water spider VIII
ed nav be seen IN any pond This pee
Earitv Of the Chinus mole IS not genera
known. and the only wonder IS that
has not been more popular in priYa
70 couservatories as a curiosity
Il The Autearius 1oxica-ia is an innOceI
Use appearing little tree in the greenhou
len with the other curios. yet the ancier
he believed that he who went 20 sleep
-be meath its branches would never awake