The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-11-27
RED HAIR BANEFUL? GOOD FOOD TREES |
Some of Them viii Equal Any
Restaurant.
Among the Many Peculiar Growths in
Different Parts of the World Are
the Milk Tree, Butter Tree
and Bread Tree.

and Bread Tree.
If one could gather together the
products of the different foOd-produc-
ing trees he could get quite substan-
tial meal.
For instance, in Venezuela is the
COW tree, which derives its name from
the fact that when the trunk is cut
a stream of milk gushes out-milk OF
thick, creamy consistency, with
balmy fragrance. The milk flows best
in the early morning and at sunset. AT
these times the natives come from far
and near with bowls or pals to get
their family supply of the milk. 1t is
of SUCH thickness that if left to "set"
it very soon becomes cheese.
Another one of natures dairies is
the butter tree. The name is also
given to several tropical trees which
yield certain oils that can be used for
butter. The real butter tree grows
in central Africa. From the kernels
of the fruit is obtained rich butter that
can be preserved for a year or more.
In order to make the meal complete
there should be bread to go with the
butter, and this is provided by the
bread tree, which fourishes in the
islands of the Pacific. The tree is OF
good size, with large lobed leaves and
fruit of a roundish form, from four to
seven inches in diameter. This fruit,
when baked, resembles bread some
what, and is eaten by the natives as
such.
A boon to the weary wayfarer is the
travellers tree, found in Madagascar.
It will grow in the most arid desert,
and no matter how dry the weather
is, a quart of water always flows out
when. the stalk is punctured. The wa
ter is pure, clear and pleasant to the
taste. The leaves of the tree are from
ten to fifteen feet in length.
In order to provide light for their
darkness the natives of the South Sea
islands make use Of the candle tree.
It's fruit is heart-shaped, and the seeds
when boiled make tallow that Is ex-
cellent for candles. The natives re-
move the shells, bake and string the
kernels and preserve them. Five or
six Of the kernels are enough to sup
ply good, clear light.
In Jamaica is found the so-called
life tree" If the leaves are broken
from the plant they will continue to
grow. Nothing but fire will DESTROY
this tree.
A tree that loves darkness rather
than the light is the "sorrowful tree"
found in western India. 1t is so called
because it weeps every morning. The
tree flourishes only in the dark.
Through the day and up until sunset
not a flower can be seen, but after
darkness has fallen the tree becomes
a mass of blossoms. At sunrise the
! flowers drop off in a shower, thus pro-
ducing the effect of weeping. The
blossoms open every night in the year.
Another kind of travellers tree has
leaves that closely resemble the plan
tain. No part of it is edible, but the
| large leaf stalks are used for the par
titions and walls of houses, and the
leaves themselves for thatch roofing.
In Chinatown can be found many in
| ISISSIllAS IlCO 6lOWbhoJ OUS AhN0N "
the peculiar effects are produced by
expert tree grafters. For instance, be-
fore the gates to many of the temples
are evergreen trees split up from the
bottom for about six feet. The two
halves are then set about three feet
apart, and each has the same curve
20 the place where they meet, thus
forming a sort of arch, through which
it is expected the worshiper shall pass
on entering the temple.
The Chinese are very fond Of braid
ing sprouts together and allowing them
to grow in that way. Throughout the
empire many other attempted improve.
ments on nature may be found as a
result of the marvellous horticultural
skill of the yellow people.
One of the strangest trees in the
world is the ambash, whose wood is
the lightest known, being only about
two-fifths as heavy as cork. 1t is
found in the waters of Lake Chad, in
Africa, a body Of water remarkable
for the fact that, while it has an area
of 10000 square miles, it averages only
six feet in depth.