THE MAGIC BULB

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 16

THE MAGIC BULB

In the Middle Ages there grew in the garden of the Rajah of Cashmere a rare flower. Centuries back a master of magic had extracted from its threadlike stigmas a wonderful yellow dye, afterwards employed only for the Royal robes. The secret and the flower were zealously guarded, till one day an English traveller found-him-self near the Palace. While sojourning there he heard rumours of the Royal flower, .which, it was said, multiplied itself by peculiar “bulbs” in the ground. “Ahl” thought he, “if J could but carry back home some of these, my fortune would be made!” By means of a bribe, and disguised as one of the gardeners, he obtained a sight of the Royal flower garden, duly noting the bed of golden blossoms which produced the beautiful dye. That night he crept stealthily along the garden walls, drugged the guard, and, digging up one of the precious bulbs, escaped with his booty. When daylight appeared he hollowed out the bottom of his walking-stick, and in this queer hiding-place brought the first crocus to England. Some years later a tiny hamlet in Essex became renowned for saffron dye, and to this day it is called Saffron Walden. A BIRTHDAY GIFT The Zoological Society of New York has wished the Zoological Society of London many happy returns of its birthday, and has sent a pigmy hippopotamus as a little token of esteem. The newcomer is a female, and is six years old. The two societies have always been great friends, a.nd have helped each other in every way. After the way, when the London stock was low. New ork sent sea lions, birds, and small mammals to mark the Armistice. The pigmy hippo marks the London Zoo’s hundredth birthday. PLOUGHING THE TEAS A traveller on an Atlantic liner was very interested in another passenger who seemed quite out of place at sea, and, in fact, was obviously a farmer. “Very rough this morning,” said the first, by way of opening conversation. “Yes,” replied the farmer; “but it would not be nearly so bad if only the captain would keep in the furrows.”