The craft of mother nature

Published March 25, 2002

TOBA TEK SINGH, March 24: Banyan (Ficus Bengalensis) and peepul (Ficus Religiosa) are one of the rare breeds growing independently on the walls of old houses and buildings.

Known as a self-grown species, the two can never be cut from their roots as the branches develop again and again within a short time.

This correspondent happened to witness such an antique banyan tree grown at the joint of two big branches of a 60-foot high Eucalyptus tree. The tree stands on the premises of tehsil municipal gardens on Jhang Road.

A great many visitors can hardly describe the bliss of nature the tree has been decorated with. They call it an extraordinary act of the nature.

Agronomists say seeds of some of the plants need treatment for sowing and the completion of dormancy (period which must be spent after getting seeds before sowing) of several months or a year. There are so many other which require washing with some soft type of chemicals before sowing in earth, they add, claiming seeds of banyan and peepul fall in this kind.

Experts maintain nature serves as a mother to these by treating during dormancy and washing of seeds with soft chemicals before they are sown through the stomach of few birds.

The birds are being treated on the fruits of both the trees and when they discharge stool the problem automatically solves.

The trees have strong roots and even continual process of axing cannot raze these, they believe.