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 @ 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 
