Plants as Supply Stores.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8043, 2 February 1906, Page 4

Plants as Supply Stores.

There are few plants that have not been utilised in one way or another by mankind for food, paper, drugs, or other purposes. Amongst many not so well known may be mentioned the Japancso wax-tree, hearing bunches of fruit growing like grapes, which contain a species of wax used in making caudles. Another tree found in the Pacific Island, and known as the candle-nut, yields a large quantity of oil, while the kernels are strung together on a stick and lighted as a candle. The fruit of the candle-tree is between three and four feet in length, about an inch in diameter, and of a yellowish colour. As they are seen hanging from the tree they represent the appearance of a number of wax candles, and arc in r.uch abundance as to give the idea of a chandler's shop. Some of these trees are grown in the Isle of Wight. The telegraph plant, which'grows in India, is a slender, erect shrub, so called because of some resemblance to signals in the motion of its trifoliate leaves—the two side ones rising and falling alternatively for a time, and then resting for a period. Sometimes many oftho leaves arc in motion and sometimes on\j a few : the greatest activity being in the early morning, aud not depending on the wind. When the British Used to Gamble. Drawing of the first lottery held in England commenced on January Hlh 1569, and continued at all hours of the day and night at the west door of St. Paul's Cathedral for nearly four months. For the previous two years the scheme was well boomed, and the lottery consisted of 40,000 lots of shares, at ten shillings each. The profit was devoted to the reparation of harbours aiid other useful public works. The State lottery very quickly grew into popularity, and a keen and brisk business was carred on by the numerous lottery offices. On one occasion circumstances excited the people to such an extent that extravagant biddings were made for the remaining shares in the lottery of that year until as much as £l2O were given for a ticket on the day before the drawing. In 1737 a lady living in London had a lottery ticket presented to her by her husband, and on the Sunday preeceding the drawing her success wa3 prayed for in the parish church in this form : " The prayers of this congregation are desired for the success of a person engaged in a new undertaking. The Crab. The crab, like the spider, is rather a queer fellow, and highly ingenious. Volumes might be written on the cunning little tricks of these worthies. A French naturalist has discovered a tiny crab which lodges with the oyster. The mollusc gives it shelter, and in return enjoys the scraps of its meals. Another naturalist has found a pigmy crab inside the shell of the sea urchin among the coral islands of the Pacific. Entering young it grows so big that it cannot get out again, but catches its food through the hole or door of the spiny case. A stcne house is not so durable as one of brick. A brick house, well constructed, will outlast one built of granite.