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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8320, 29 July 1890, Page 6

There are not only trees that whistle, but also trees that weep but how the tears are shed, and from whence their supply, seems to have been a mystery. However, the problem of one weeping tree has been effectually solved, notwithstanding all the superstitious nonsense attached to those particular denizens of the forest. It appears that 011 the discovery of one of these trees in Texas a bravo reporter, laying aside all superstition, climbed courageously up the trunk, and discovered that the tears were shed by a multitude of small insects of dark green colour, with gold under the wings, which adhered to the bark, scampered about when disturbed, and Hew away when pressed too closely. Prof. <>. VV. Curtis, ot the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, secured specimens, and sent them to Prof. Osborn, who recognised them as the common little leaf-hopper, Proconia ( Oncometcpia) tnidiUa, which occur upon the orange in Florida, and upon cotton plants in other Southern States, and which is remarkable for the distance to which it ejects drops of honeydew. " We," says an expert, "frequently met with this species in the cotton fields in the summer of 1879, and noted the extraordinary abundance of the secretion." Prof. Curtis, in his letter to Prof. Osborn, stated that in Dallas they made the tree present a decided appearance of weeping quite profusely, the drops being small, but coming quite thick and fast. Each insect would eject a drop at intervals of two seconds during a period of several minutes, and would then stop for a little while. At the next meeting of the Napier Charitable Aid Board, Mr. Cohen will move as follows : —" That a committee, consisting of all the members of the Charitable Aid Board, and the Hospital Trustees, with as many citizens and settlers as can bo induced to join the movement, be formed, tor the purpose of raising funds to improve the buildings used as a refuge in Napier." " Physicians of all schools use and recommend Di, Soule's Auiericau Hop Bittern, Test them. 1 '