The World's Encyclopedia of Wonders and Curiosities

Everything a Victorian found astonishing, gathered into one enormous volume — burning springs and buried cities, freaks of storm and flood, the habits of bees and the manners of nations, filed under headings like “Curiosities Respecting Man.”

Curiosities Respecting Vegetables

31 pages in this part of Wonders and Curiosities.

Germination of Seeds

sand years old; and if we calculate the amount of the annual produce of such a tree for the above space of time, we shall find that a…

Number of Plants

but certain it is, that thousands of oaks are annually planted by this means. Swine, also, in searching for food, turn up the earth; and…

The Sensitive Plant

fold up, and inclose the insect till it dies; the leaves then open of themselves. We may daily observe regular motions in some plants in…

Chap. XXXIV

CURIOSITIES RESPECTING VEGETABLES. (Continued.) The Cocoa-Nut Tree-The Bread-Fruit Tree-The Bannian Tree-Fountain Trees-The Tallow Tree-The…

The Cocoa-Nut Tree

Or all the gifts which Providence has bestowed on the Oriental world, the cocoa-nut tree most deserves our notice: in this single…

The Bread-Fruit Tree

luxuriance; and that the climate of these islands differs very little from that of the West Indan islands which lie in the same latitude…

The Bread-Fruit Tree: Bligh

Accordingly, a ship of 400 tons, named the Providence, was engaged for the purpose, and the command of her given to Captain Bligh; and a…

Fountain Trees

hanging branches, which have not yet struck down, cover a much larger space. The chief trunks of this single tree, each of which in size…

Fountain Trees: Canary

FOUNTAIN TREES.-These are very extraordinary vegetables, growing in one of the Canary Islands, and likewise said to exist in some other…

Adansonia, Ethiopian Sour Gourd, Monkeys' Bread

or AFRICAN CALABASH TREE. -There is but one known species belonging to this genus, the baobal, which is perhaps the largest production of…

African Calabash Tree

branches extend almost horizontally, and as they are about sixty feet in length, their own weight bends their extremities to the ground…

Curiosities Respecting Vegetables (Day but this was only when he)

day, but this was only when he felt some symptoms of an approaching fever. By this precaution he preserved himself, during the five years…

A Remarkable Oak Tree

Mr. Gilpin, in his forest scenery, gives the following account of an aged oak :- "Close by the gate of the Water-walk, at Magdalen College…

The Upas, or Poison-Tree of Java

is the property of Philip Duncombe Pauncefort, Esq. The trunk is thirty-nine feet six inches in circumference. The inside of the body is…

The Upas, or Poison-Tree of Java: Antshar

I first met with the Antshar in the province of Poegar, on my way to Bangoowangee: in the province of Blambangan, I visited four or five…

Curiosities Respecting Vegetables (Which it grew that it)

which it grew, that it was with difficulty I could approach it. Several vines and climbing shrubs, in complete health and vigour, adhered…

Chap. XXXV

CURIOSITIES RESPECTING VEGETABLES. - (Continued.) Curious Plant near the Cape of Good Hope-The Mandrake- Changeable Flower-Chinese Method…

Mandrake. -Changeable Flower

THE MANDRAKE. - This plant possesses a long taper root resembling the parsnip, running three or four feet into the ground; immediately from…

Method of Preparing Teas

also very common, and sold at a low rate. The Chinese, however, are very fond of good tea, and take as much pains to procure it of an…

Method of Preparing Teas: Bohea

Bohea teas in general ought to be dry, and heavy in the hand: this is a sign that the leaves have been full and juicy. When infused, they…

Method of Preparing Teas: Pekoe

The Pekoe is a particular kind of tea-shrub, the leaves of which are all black on the one side, and all white on the other. As the real…

A Pound of Cotton-Wool

Bark. A French merchant, M. Delpech, residing at Guayra, in the Caraccas, had stored up a large quantity of fresh cinchona, in apartments…

A Pound of Cotton-Wool: Paisley

CURIOUS PARTICULARS OF A POUND WEIGHT OF COTTON- WOOL. The wool came from the East Indies to London; from London it went to Manchester…

The Animal Flower

year, or perhaps longer, in a vessel of sea water, without any visible food; but, when food is presented, one of them will successively…

The Meteoric Stone (Excluded when the nidus)

are excluded, when the nidus, in which they are deposited, or the temperature, is favourable for their development. No fortuitous…

Curiosities Respecting Stones

The Meteoric Stone-Labrador Stone - Asbestos-Mushroom Stme-The Changeable Stone-A Wonderful Diamond- A Singular Curiosity.

The Meteoric Stone

THE following description of a meteoric stone, which fell in the year 1511, is taken from a set of observations on natural history…

Curiosities Respecting Stones (Which being collected)

which being collected at Cremasco (Creina), were found to weigh eight, and even eleven pounds each. Their colour was similar to that of…

The Mushroom Stone

THE MUSHROOM STONE, or stone capable of producing mushrooms. In the Ephemerides of the Curious mention is made, of a stone, so called by…

Curiosities Respecting Stones (Taste is likewise very)

taste is likewise very agreeable, and the sick are not debarred from eating them when dressed in a proper manner.- Some naturalists and…

Wonderful Diamond.-S.ngular Curiosity

OCULUS MUNDI. Mr. Bruckman left a piece of this stone, weighing 35 grains, seven hours in water, the space requisite to make it perfectly…

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