446 



Canadian Forestry Magazine, October, ip20. 



Strange Facts of Strange Trees 



One of the South American acacia 

 trees manufactures electricity for its pro- 

 lection — 'Or, more properly speaking, it 

 is an electric dynamo. On touching it, 

 one receives a shock so distinct that he 

 is not desirous of coming nearer. Scien- 

 lisls are now working on the theory that 

 certain electrically charged trees ex- 

 change electrical or magnetic impulses 

 through the air. 



Scientists admit that trees have their 

 laws of marriage and courtship. The 

 Indian fig tree is such an ardent lover 

 that he will actually take on the form of 

 a vine if hi.s mate chances to grow a dis- 

 tance from him, and by this means reach 

 out his arms, that he may embrace her 

 and powder her face with his perfumed 

 pollen. 



In western India there is a tree that 

 blossoms only in the aark. For some 

 reason, possibly because as ordinarily 

 seen it is of plain and desolute appear- 

 ance, it is called the sorrowful tree. 

 Every evening in the year it breaks into 

 bloom, but with the rising sun sheds or 

 folds up its flowers. 



The Germans used the seed of the sa- 

 ba^iilia, botanically known as Schoeno- 

 canlon ofBcenali, for i?ie manufacture 

 of the lachrymatory and asphyxiating 

 gases stored in their "v/eeping bombs." 

 The seeds of this strange and interesting 

 plant or tree are in fonn and color like 

 our oats, and stored, they emit a piquant 

 smell so strong as to make the eyes water 

 copiously ; they also make breathing very 

 cifficult and painful. 



The cocoanut palm is an example of a 

 sirgle tree which can be made to supply 

 all the needs of a not too luxurious mem- 

 ber of society. In certain islands of the 

 S( uthern seas this prolific plant furnishes 

 the natives with the wood from which 

 they build their houses, their boats and 

 tlieir utensils. When the leaves are 

 young they are eaten. When they are 

 old, they are woven and braided into 

 hats, baskets, cloth, fans, beddmg, paper 



and thatch, 'i'he ribs of the mature 

 leaves are converted into arrows, spears,, 

 brooms, torches and paddles. Out of 

 the flowers come wine, vinegar and 

 sugar. The fruit makes a delicious food, 

 and its husks yield oil, cord and mat- 

 ting. Even the roots are sometimes used 

 for food. 



The sweet gum, sometimes called gum- 

 rmber, actually plants seeds w^ithin it- 

 ielf. The tree first grows hollow within, 

 and then the seeds find their way into the 

 hollow. When the tree is ready to die, 

 tlie young take up the life thread and, 

 pushing their way through crevices in 

 the bark, burst the maternal trunk asun- 

 der. 



The oak is the most common tree in 

 northern United States. 



The palm tree has for centuries been 

 conceded the emblem of victory. 



The wild cherry, with its beautiful red- 

 bronze bark, is a miser. It is so nig- 

 gardly that it can not bring itself to part 

 with its own dead branches but retains 

 them indefinitely. 



Scientists declare that not a few trees 

 have become extinct as a result of inter- 

 marriage with foreign trees, or different 

 species. In some cases a healthy hybrid 

 is produced (as Burbank's plumcot) but 

 more often there is no offspring. 



The "Sneeze wood" tree of South 

 Africa has a unique way of protecting 

 itself against enemies. Its wood is light 

 bi own in color, runs very close grained^ 

 'S so hard as to sink in water, is bitter to 

 the taste, and emits a microscopic dust 

 on being sawed or cut. No insect or 

 worm will touch it and men who handle 

 it are continually sneezing. 



The sandahvood is termed the "per- 

 fume wood" tree, although it is not alone 

 in this quality, as indicated by our own 

 sassafras and cedar. 



