THE RAIN TREE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3407, 11 February 1920, Page 7

THE RAIN TREE.

I __.._..__o_____, ”I‘R.-XVELLER’S TALE EXI’I4IINED_ l VVhen the Canary lslarrds began to 3be known in Europe, stciries were told ‘of a wonderful tree -that drips with :water fast enough to supply all «the ‘ men and beasts on the otherwise nearly waterless island on which it grows_ Information has recently» r(‘.achod Eng. land which tends to show that this travellen’ tale is founded on facts (states the Christcllurch Science M011i—tor). In the Island of I-lierro there is a steep and narrow gully 1-mming up from the sea. and ending in :1 pzm-h of forest. The clouds formed by «the \\'zlrnl, damp currents of 3'“carried up the gully into the COOI mmmtain tops would, of course, in ac. (:()1'(l{1I1Cc with well-known ]n()’[Qol-()]()-gi(-.al_ laws, form clouds around the trees in question, which would drip with water. At this spot tl'm]ition plzuted the rain tree. It is quite well knr>'.\‘n to fol-esters how valuable trees are 1“ (“‘“d““5l“g \\'ater t'ronl the cl<m«l.-_ and holding it in the spongy ._g:ronnd they form '3.l‘oun<,l their roots, lm\\' they make their natural reservoix-.~: H) ‘.’<~e(l ‘he all the year I'{\)ll‘:‘l‘!4 even when. as in Hang‘ Kong, half vzhe _v(-:l2‘ is ru.inle.<s. In the ease of 'the Hiero rain tree, it is pretty evident that the tanks set in (:’;1l'el1 the water th:lvt «:0-llccted rnuml the trees supplied "many of the n:lli\'e.< and ‘(heir l)«‘(1SlS in dry _\-mlsuns. (me tree near the reser\'oir was l)i_::_;‘<*2' l'l!J_I1 the rest, nu (]uul,.'_ um} seen to (lrlp like rain, .<eelll'e<l l".lme and ;_;‘zwe ris:e in lll;\ stOrie.< I'el’el're<l tn. The .<llee]> ,<:'<‘.Lll.<_ '.ln(l .<\\.'im‘. we are told. are indepentlenl. for ’‘7w_\‘ do not (lrink at all <lHl'll2g;‘ ihe .',:'),' '\\'r.':\.thel'. hut dig up tern ro(rf.< and «-lww tl.e::; to quench their thirst.