PARK AND CCMCTCRY. 
silvery foliage, drooping habit and pinkish flowers 
is altogether a very interesting object. It has 
several varieties which are easily propagated, but 
little known. 
Caraga7ia has fifteen species of small trees and 
shrubs from Central Asia and the Himalayas. C. 
arborescens and its pendulous variety are striking 
hardy small trees. Seven or eight others are in gar- 
dens. 
Calophaca has seven species occurring from 
Western Asia, through the Caspian regions to In- 
dia. The shrubby kinds are sometimes grafted by 
European nurserymen. C. Wolgarica is from South- 
ern Russia and C. grandiflora from “Central Asia”; 
both are yellow flowered. 
Astragalus , “milk vetch,” has perhaps as many 
as 1,000 species, and it is believed even more 
names. They are pretty universal in the northern 
hemisphere, South America and South Africa. 
Some are annuals, some perennials, several trailers 
or climbers and a few are shrubby or suffrutescent. 
A. tragacantha is an evergreen shrub from Southern 
Europe; A. monspessulanus and its white variety 
are evergreen trailers from the same region. 
Oxytropis has 200 spe- 
cies in Asia, Europe and 
North America. The Ar- 
tie O. campestris is one 
of the rarest British plants, 
having been found only 
near the White Water, at 
the head oi the Clova, 
Angusshire, Scotland. 
There are a great 
number of handsome, ten- 
der plants in the same 
tribe, among which may 
be mentioned Clianthus, 
Sutherlandia, Swainsonia, 
etc., many of which would do well in California. 
Trenton, N. J. Janies MaePherson. 
Notes. 
The red carnation is regarded in Spain as an 
emblem of despair. There is a tradition in Anda- 
lusia that the flower sprang from the blood of the 
Virgin Mary. 
* * * 
The largest flower in the world is supposed to 
be the Reafflesia Arnoldi, discovered by Dr. Arnold 
in the Island of Sumatra during the early part of 
this century. It is a parasite, attaching itself to the 
roots of other plants, and is entirely destitute of 
leaves. A swelling beneath the bark of some huge 
surface-appearing root of a large tree announces the 
coming of the flower. The bud, bursting through 
the bark, looks like a young cabbage. When fully 
opened the flower, green in color, measures thirty- 
nine inches in diameter, and its five great petals 
surround a cup-like calyx which holds six quarts of 
liquid. 
* * * 
London is threatened with the loss of the Crys- 
tal palace, which for nearly two generations has 
been one of the most popular and widely known 
centers of amusement and of interest in the vicinity 
of the metropolis. The concern is hopelessly bank- 
rupt, and, although the government is manifesting 
an anxiety to prevent its destruction, yet there 
seems to be no practical means of preserving this 
memorial ot the first of the great international ex- 
hibitions of the nineteenth century. 
3fc- * ^ 
In the mountains of Venezuela grows a remark- 
able tree. It is found in rocky places, at heights 
of about Jialf a mile. It is a stupid-looking tree 
enough at first sight. It is lofty and slender, and 
has stiff leaves that grow a foot or more in length. 
It looks much of the time as if it were dead. In 
those regions there is a wet and dry season, and 
during many months at a time not a shower washes 
its leaves. It bears very small, insignificant look- 
ing flowers. It is the milk tree, the famous “palo 
de vaca,” cow tree, which Humboldt describes. He 
first brought it into notice. It is an evergreen. Its 
sap is a delicious fluid resembling the finest Jersey 
milk, only sweeter and richer than even that. When 
the negroes are thirsty they cut into the side of the 
trunk as one would bore into a maple for sugar 
water, and the milk gushes forth in a great stream. 
It is both food and drink, so rich is it. After a lit- 
tle time it grows thick and yellow, and a cream 
rises to the top. It has a fragrant odor. When a 
cow tree is tapped the natives hasten from all quar- 
ters with their bowls to catch the flow of milk. 
Sunrise is the best time to tap the tree, for then 
the sap flows most abundantly. 
* * * 
Professor Maspero, the famous Egyptologist, is 
authority for the statement that among the royal 
mummies unbandaged in l866 was one of a young 
man who had evidentiy been embalmed alive. The 
body had been tightly bound in three places, and 
then coated with bitumen, lime and pounded resin, 
and then wound from head to foot with bandages 
which had been soaked in some glutinous prepara- 
tion. The agonized expression of the face and 
other evidences gave the scientists their clew. His 
age is about 23. The gold ornaments on his body 
indicated that he was of high rank, and likely the 
victim of some terrible tragedy. 
CLIANTHUS. (Glory Pea.) 
