PROPERTIES OF THE ARAUCARIA IMBRICATA 229 



plant, beset with determined desire to 

 prove an ancient lineage, dare venture 

 farther into the claims of long descent ? 

 The tree has still further accomplishments than 

 those we have mentioned. The plentiful white resin 

 of its natural propensities has a healing, and the nuts 

 of its cones an appetising effect, especially prized by the 

 Arauco Indians of South America, from whom comes 

 its name. As a cultured viand on the Epicurean 

 tables of our fashionable resorts, so far as we know, 

 it has made no habitual appearance, despite the fact, 

 if it is so as we read of it, that the fruit of a big tree 

 of this kind has been said to have fed ravenous 

 families of Chilian children by the score for periods 

 indefinite, or, we may add, for periods possibly un- 

 authenticated. 



It is a generally accepted home truth that nearly 

 all the turpentine and resin consumed is obtained 

 from Pines. If it were possible to enter Araucarias 

 in such a competition, the Pines might lose their old 

 monopoly, for the Puzzle Monkey literally reeks of 

 them, fore and aft, and from every pore. 



Those versed in saw-bench experiences have always 

 regarded the cutting up and the quartering of it with 

 an undisguised and holy terror, that neither time nor 

 further acquaintance have ever diminished. It is 

 these ever-flowing resinous properties that have so 

 consistently defied the blades of their knives, blunted 

 their edges, and brought it a well-earned unpopu- 

 larity on such scenes of practical workmanship. 



A fairly large tree (35 ft. high and 5 ft. 6 in. in 

 girth), cut down here, quite corroborates these 

 traditions. For two years after its generally admitted 

 decease it seemed obstinately bent on refusal to 

 accept the inevitable. The log, as it lay in the 

 lumber-yard for two years, kept on sprouting its 

 green leaves with optimistic persistency. Even the 



