OBLONG TREES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2172, 4 September 1920, Page 1

OBLONG TREES.

The squaring of the ei'rcle was a secret recently discovered,, at any rate in regard to trees, by the lively School of Forestry at Cambridge, who announced their ability to grow square trees. Sui?h trees of commercial value have not yel been grown; but there exists in (lie school a wonderful specimen of the oblong tree, which lias helped to the discovery of a real secret of growth. The trunk in question is about 3Uin by 2in. Its curious shape was due to no more than a little bruise or two, which persuaded it to grow like anything in one direction, ami not at ail in any other. A similar bruise on another trunk made it grow a round tabletop of beautifully patterned wood, vastly harder than the normal tree,

in spite of the fact that it grew very much more quickly. Other discoveries and experiments prove that an artistic bruise, it may be no more violent than si rung pressure with Ihe linger tips, can make a tree expand in a desired direction', just as an insect, by a little juice or well-directed puncture, can create a gall or curl a leaf. Cambridge is learning to play this insect’s trick; and to help the science, a club with a periodical has been formed so that the school at Cambridge —which is not blessed with many trees-—may keep in touch with their emissaries to Burma, South America, and elsewhere, who will suitably, bruise their forests till they train them to what pattern they will—to table tops or golf club heads, or roof beans, or axle trees.

Sing up those ragtime melodies! They .make me feel so gay. I’m in no mood for rhapsodies And sentiment to-day. Cut out those “Songs of Araby”! Sad strains I can’t endure — Make me rejoice and clear your

voice With Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. —Advt. -f