THE SKETCHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1936, 2 April 1891, Page 31

THE SKETCHER.

VERY PECULIAR TREES.

Some Strange Specimens of Nature's Handi-

In India, Africa, Brazil, Guiana, and other tropical lands is found a genus of trees known by the general name of "butter trees," so called because they yield large quantities of oil which has the appearance of and is used in the same manner as butter. The oil or fat is contained in the seed of the tree, and is extracted in various ways by the inhabitants of the localities in which they flourish. The butter tree of Central Africa yields what is called " Galam butter," which forms a staple article of commerce among the tribes inhabiting that portion of tbe world. Its seeds greatly resemble an olive, are dried by the heat of the sun, or subjected to fire heat in an earth oven, after which the kernels are removed and boiled in water, which extracts the butter. This requires no salt for its preservation, and travellers inform us that it is whiter, of more solid consistency, and sweeter than butter made from cows' milk. It is used both as a food and as a medicine.

AN OIL TEEE.

In the vicinity of Bengal, Bahar, and other portions of India another species, known as the "mahwa tree," bears seeds which, when pressed, yields a greenishyellow oil used in lamps and also as a medium for frying food of various kinds. In addition to this its flowers are considered a very nourishing article of diefc, being eaten raw. When properly distilled they are converted into a fiery and intoxicating drink. The wood of the mahwa is very extensively employed for building purposes.

Still another variety — the " tuleva tree "—" — found in the more mountainous parts of India, bears a fruit the size and shape of a pigeon's egg, which ie occasionally eaten, but the seed proves more valuable because of the thick oil or butter it contains. This is much sought after for use as an ointment and for other medicinal purposes.

Along the Coromandel coast extensive groves of the " Indian oil tree " — the natives call ifc the "illupi tree " — are found. From it is obtained a large quantity of oil, which is used in lamps, soap-making, cooking, and for -other household purposes. Like the mahwa tree, it bears flowers that are considered great delicacies, and its wood is noted for its extieme hardness and durability, being used very extensively in boafc-build-ing.

Closely allied to those described are those known as " tallow trees," whiGh flourish in various parts of the globe. The name originated in the fact tbafc these trees produce a thick oil or vegetable tallow which can be used in making candles. The chief of this genus is the

MALABAE TALLOW TREE,

yielding East Indian copal, from which very superior varnish is made. Its seeds, after boiling, yield a fine white tallow extensively used in both soap and candle making. Another variety exists in China, bearing fruit whose seeds are covered with a beautifully white vegetable tallow, used by the Chinese in making candles of tbe best quality. When separated from the seed by boiling this tallow is almost too thin for the desired purpose, to obviate which ifc is necessary to add wax to give ifc the proper consistency.

Specimens of this tree are met with in various portions of the United States, more especially in the neighbourhood of Charleston, Savannah, and other seaport; towns of North and South Carolina. In Sierra Leone, Africa, there is also a tallow tree which differs but slightly from those already described.

Throughout this country, but more especially in the Southern States, there grows in luxuriance a small tree, or, more properly speaking, a low-spreading shrub, to which the name of " candleberry tree," or " candleberry myrtle," is given. It is also known as the " wax tree," " wax myrtle," " tallow tree," or " bayberry." The berries produced by ifc when ripe are covered wifch a greenishwhite wax, which, as in the cases quoted above, is extracted by boiliner, skimming, melting, and refining. Ifc makes an excellent variety of soap, and candles of a medium quality. The wax is also employed in making ointments and waterproofing preparations. Several species of the candleberry are found in South Africa, where they are known as the " wax shrub." The wax is used for the same purpose as that produced by the American variety.

A SOUTH SEA ISLAND CURIOSITY.

Away off in Tahiti, Samoa, and other South Sea islands, and in Madagascar, Molucca, Java, and Borneo, there grows the "candlenut tree," which bears a heartshaped nut about the size of a walnut, containing a kernel which, when roasted, is said to be very toothsome.

Ifc also yields an oil extensively used for cooking and illuminating purposes. The natives of the Society Islands partially bake these nuts, remove the shells, bore a hole through them, and stringing on rushes hang them up in their huts as torches. Whsn lit they give forth a brilliant bufc soft and mellow light; particularly pleasing to the eye. These strings are also used like jack-lamps by fishing parties. The native Tahitian gathers a sticky juice exuding from the bark of this tree, and prizes ifc very highly as a chewing gum.

While en the subject of soap and candles it will not be amiss to make mention of the remarkable species o£ tree known as the " soapberry or soap tree," found in many parts of the West India Islands. It bears a fruit having a pulp much used as a substitute for soap in washing, in the same manner as the genus of plants called "saponaria" or "soapwort." So strong is this pulp that ifc is capable of cleansing as much linen as 60 times its weight of ordinary soap. The kernels found inside of this substance were once imported into Europe, and after being mounted in silver and gold served as vest; buttons, their black shiny surface making them very attractive, besides which they were so tough that ifc was almost impossible to wear out or break them.

A TEI3E THAT PEODUCES MANNA.

The " manna ash " is another peculiar tree found principally in Sicily and also in the Apennine Mountains in Calabria. It produQ.es the substance known as manna, a kind.

of sugar which exudes from cuts made in the stem oE the tree. July and August are the months in which it is gathered. A number of deep gashes are made through the bark with a knife having a peculiarly curved blade, care being taken to operate on one side of the tree during one season, the other side being similarly treated the next year. In this manner the trees are not destroyed, the incisions healing up in the interval. When the weather is warm and dry the juice slowly oozes out of the cuts and hardens in lumps or flakes, which are detached from time to time by the collectors. Ifc is a light, porous substance greatly resembling hardened honey, except that ifc is much harder and drier. Its chief use is in medicine, being employed as a purgative. Some of my older readers probably recollect their childish experience with that nauseous dose known as " seeny (senna) and manna," as the country folks are prone to call ifc.

The Australian manna tree furnishes a similar substance, which is not used medicinally, but on the contrary is made up into a confection held in high repute by the boys and girls in that part of the world. This manna is not, however, the substance upon which [the Israelites subsisted while in the wilderness. According: to noted writers and investigators, it was produced by a shrub belonging to the tamarisk family. The honey-like substance contained in the last-named shrub is produced by punctures made in its branches by a kind of insect bearing the generic name of coccus.

THE LIFE TEEE

Cn the Island of Jamaica there is said to be a tree whose leaves grow even when detached from the stem and can only be destroyed by fire, on which account it has been called the " life tree."

Another wonderful specimen of Nature's handiwork in the matter of trees is one existing in the Island of Ferro, or Hiero, the largest of the Canary Group. This has been appropriately termed the " water tree," because of a constant mist which surrounds ifc during certain portions of the day, and collecting on the leaves is condensed and forms the only supply of water to ,be had on this parcbed-up island. Large cisterns are erected under these trees in which is accumulated this strangely produced water supply. These are carefully guarded and cherished by the appreciative inhabitants.

Other species of the water tree are seen in Washington and British Columbia, In this instance they are a species of fir, with leaves possessing a remarkable condensing power. Other instances of these wonderful trees exist in Guinea and other portions of Africa.

New Zealand is the home of a species of tree capable of catching birds by means of a viscous gum secreted by the flowers it bears. The victims of this

STJ.JANGE NATURAL TBAP

are attracted by the flies which are caught in its sticky seed-vessels, and alighting on the branches soon find their wings glued together in such a manner as to prevent any attempts at flight, and the poor little prisoners remain there to die or fall a prey to some wandering animal with a leaning towards a bird diet.

The "calabash tree" is another queer denizen of the forest. In height and size it greatly resembles the ordinary apple tree, and bears whitish flowers which mature into a gourd-like fruit of various dimensions, some specimens being a foot in diameter. The hard shell enclosing this fruit bears the name of calabash, and is much used in making cups, water-cans, and other receptacles for holding liquids. In some of the West India Islands these calabashes are artistically carved and polished, and make very attractive and useful ornaments. The shells are so hard that in many instances they resist fire, being used for boiling water and other liquids. The ordinary, every- day calabash, so familiar in this country, is the product of the gourd plant, which does not belong to the same family as the tree in question.

Horseradish, the favourite condiment, as we know ifc, is obtained in the shape of a root of a plant growing in damp or marshy localities, but there is a

" HOBSEBA.DISH TREE"

growing in Arabia, India, the East and West Indies, Egypt, Syria, and Italy. The leaves are mildly pungent, but the roots are very peppery, and serve every purpose of the horseradish plant of America. The tree bears seeds which yield the oil of Ben — an oil used by watchmakers, because it does not freeze easily, and by perfumers as the base of several scents and also as an adulterant. From its bark is obtained an excellent variety of gum, resembling that known as tragacanth,- which is so extensively used in making paste for mounting photographs and other delicate work.

Casuarina is the name given by naturalists to a genus of tree whose plain English title is "beef-wood tree." It was so called by the Australian colonists because when cub the surface presented every appearance of a piece of newly butchered beef. It is a very lofty tree, and is found in Australia, in ail the South Sea islands, in the Indian Archipelago, the Malayan Peninsula, and in Bengal. It was once a favourite wood with the Society Islanders, who used it in making their war clubs and in the construction of their canoes, being especially adapted to the latter purpose because of its resistance to water.

Instances of other remarkable trees throughout all parts of the world could be multiplied here if space would permit, but those described have been selected as among the most carious examples of the strange provisions of an all-powerful Nature. In every case these trees render invaluable service to mankind. — Louis T. Peale, in Detroit Free Press.