PARK AND CEMETERY 
that no explanation based on natural phenomena, 
has ever been given. 
It must not be forgotten that the occurence was on 
a desert where no trees grew, and though it is possi- 
ble that a few scrubby specimens of the Tamarix 
might be found here and there, the salty stuff it 
exudes called Jews’ manna, would have been found 
every day, and there could be nothing miraculous 
on its appearance at the particular occasion cited. 
There is absolutly nothing growing on that great 
desert that could furnish the article described. It 
is given to us as an absolute miracle, — and it could 
just as well have been accomplished in the shape of 
some absolute new farinaceous compound. In- 
deed the miracle would have been just as perfect if 
the Jews had been able to live for forty days with- 
out food at all. When things are given to us as 
miracles, what is gained by explaining them away? 
The Christian at IThr/f should know better. 
Manna, as we know it, is the sap of an Ash 
tree, Fraxinus Omits . This does not grow in 
Palestine. — Meehans' Monthly for June. 
Garden Plants. — Their Geography. VIII. 
GUTTIFERALES. 
THE HYPERICUM, GORDONIA AND DIPTEROCARPUS ALLIANCE. 
This group is largely confined to tropical and 
sub-tropical regions. It is composed of 17 tribes, 
103 genera, and 1141 species of mostly handsome 
evergreen trees and shrubs, with comparatively few 
herbs. 
ElatinecB is a small tribe of two genera, Elatine 
and Bergia, both represented in Southern U. S. 
plants. There are some 25 species, little annual 
marsh herbs scattered over the four quarters of the 
earth, and of no particular interest to any but 
Botanists. Bergia aquatica, an East Indian 
species is in British gardens however, and has 
yellowish flowers with dark stamens. They are 
called “water peppers” in consequence of their 
pungent taste. 
Ascyrum is a genus of 7 species, mostly small 
evergreens, natives of the United States, Mexico, 
the West Indies and the Himalayas. Four or five 
are in cultivation known as “St. Andrews Cross,” 
“St. Peters Wort” Stc. 
Hyper icnni has 175 species distributed over the 
world. About 30 are found in the United States. 
A few are showy garden plants with yellow flowers, 
and often unsightly seed pods. Recently they have 
been hybridized and the H. -r Moserianum is re- 
ported hardy as far north as New York, at least. 
One of its parents H. calycinum is regarded as 
British, has fine large flowers, and is a useful 
low growing plant for partial shade. Many 
others with smaller, more abundant flowers, such 
as H. aureum, are seen in gardens, and severa' 
HYPERICUM + MOSERIANUM. 
sub-tropical shrubs are winter flowering. 
Clnsia has 65 species of trees and shrubs which 
are exclusively from the tropical and sub-tropical 
parts of America, 
C. Flava, the “Hog plum” of the West 
Indies, is indigenous in S. Florida. C. rosea, 
said to be found in the Carolinas, and “hardy or 
half hardy” in the south of England, is a doubtful 
species at best. 
Garcinia is a large genus of tropical trees, and 
includes the gamboge (originally called Cambogia 
Gutta) and also the superb fruit of the Indian 
Archipelago called the mangosteen. 
Mesua is in three or four species of trees, natives 
of India and other parts of tropical Asia; the sweet- 
ly scented flowers are sold in the bazars in large 
quantities. 
Maniinea is the genus, yeilding the delicious 
fruits of that 
name; there are 
five species dis- 
tributed over the 
tropical parts of 
America, Asia 
and Africa. The 
plant once known 
as M. Africana, 
however, is now 
included under 
A c h r o c a rpus. 
They are kept 
MAMMEA AMERICANA. witll pi'Otection 
in S. Flordia. 
Eurya has probably 15 or 20 species, although 
more than this number are enumerated. They 
are natives of sub-tropical and tropical Asia, as 
far north as Japan and the Himalayas. Severa 
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